New Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Terry Lister has said he doesn't mind that work permit numbers have slightly risen under the PLP as he says his party has a 10-year plan for the country.

He said Government would be continuing to encourage less labour intensive international business such e-commerce which could be done without importing large amounts of foreign employees.

He said: "Sustainability is always an issue. We are an overdeveloped island."

But he said education was the key to ensure young people got ahead so "we don't have any throw away Bermudians and the country gets maximum output from the indigenous population.

"The 60,000 or so who are all 'belongers', so to speak, all need to pull our weight."

He told the Royal Gazette: "We are placing a great part of changing Bermuda on young people.

"We are on a long term mission to ensure young people take ownership of their country.

"It's very easy to bang on the door of the work permit department and say only Bermudians should get this job or that job, that's easy."

But he said young locals had a responsibility to get involved in the community such as comply with the Regiment call-up and work with Keep Bermuda Beautiful.

Community policing is seen by Mr. Lister as the key to cracking repeat crime which was robbing the country of young talent.

"Likely offenders can then be identified a lot sooner."

Mr. Lister paid tribute to outgoing Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox but denied the bulk of the work had been completed. Ms Cox had tabled proposals to deal with rights for long term residents, brought in work permit restrictions and passed the Employment Act to ensure minimum legal standards for employees.

But Mr. Lister said new issues would always crop up such as the outcry over sham marriages to bypass immigration laws.

Mr. Lister could give no clues on when promised legislation on long term residents would finally become law or when minor traffic offences would be dealt with by on-the-spot fines which could be paid without having to wait in plea court.

But he said legislation for a new code of conduct for prison officers could be on the cards following the recent revised guides for civil servants.

The decision to bring the National Training Board into the Home Affairs portfolio would help alert unemployed and those in training to upcoming vacancies currently the subject of work permit renewals said Mr. Lister.