Labour and Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess yesterday defended a new housing law which critics say discriminates against Bermudians married to foreigners.

The Minister spoke at a press conference in reaction to complaints that the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Amendment Act 2007 prevents Islanders with expatriate spouses from buying more than one home if their partner benefits from or contributes to the property. Mr. Burgess told the media it had been vital for Government to act as more and more land was being owned by foreigners and that he was not put off by accusations of unfairness against one section of the population.

"A staggeringly high 37 percent of residential land in Bermuda is already owned legally by non-Bermudians," said Mr. Burgess. "I repeat, 37 percent of residential land in Bermuda is already owned legally by non-Bermudians.

"We are not persuaded by those Bermudians who complain that they are being discriminated against because they are not permitted to purchase a second residential property with their non-Bermudian spouses.

"The Government is more concerned about preserving residential properties that might be purchased by Bermudians who do not already own a home in Bermuda. Home ownership by as many Bermudians as possible is a principle goal of the Government."

Stressing the importance of home ownership for Bermudians, he said: "How can citizens be expected to contribute to and take care of their communities if they don't own the land and the homes in which they live?"

Explaining the importance of bringing the new law, he said: "In the absence of this legislation, there is nothing to stop a Bermudian who marries a wealthy non-Bermudian from acquiring as many properties as he or she likes to the detriment of Bermudians without access to such riches, and this is simply unacceptable to this Government.

Without the new legislation, with its restriction on the number of residential properties that can be owned by non-Bermudians, including non-Bermudians who are married to Bermudians, it will be possible for a Bermudian and his or her non-Bermudian spouse to own 100 or more houses in Bermuda.

"You can easily imagine the dire impact that this situation would have on the ability of Bermudians to own residential properties in Bermuda."