Days after the smooth passage of landmark legislation ending years of uncertainty for the Island's long term residents, the United Bermuda Party is criticising Government for not being better prepared for its implementation.

And the Opposition is also calling for clarification on whether costs for work permits for the newly enfranchised residents will be waived in the interim.

After the Senate's unanimous approval of the Immigration and Protection Amendment Act 2002, Government Senate leader David Burch announced that the Department of Immigration will not be accepting applications from the hundreds of people who are now entitled to Bermudian status or Permanent Residents Certificates until the end of October.

He cited the need to hire extra staff and a consultant to cope with the expected deluge of applications.

The consultant, he said, was needed to design a new computer database to "expedite the applications" and a dedicated phone line established to handle enquiries about the new law.

"Government regrets that it will not be possible to implement provisions of the new legislation immediately," Sen. Burch said in his capacity as acting minister for Labour and Home Affairs.

"To now suggest that people's lives must be put on further hold is tantamount to the Government planning a banquet, and not preparing the food until the guests arrive," said UBP Immigration spokesperson Patricia Gordon-Pamplin.

"It is poor planning, it is sloppy administration, it is entirely unacceptable and suggests that the government's desire to resolve the issue has been disingenuous at best."

Ms Gordon-Pamplin added that the Immigration Department's computer system had been "deficient" for some time and addressing the issue now "seems like they are trying to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted".

She added: "I only trust that the `outside consultant', once they are identified and hired are of a calibre and professional standing that is better than some of the `empowering' contracts over the last four years without regard to ability."

Sen Burch did not return calls seeking a response to the criticism.

The Act, which becomes law when the Governor signs it, will grant Bermudian status to people whose brothers and sisters are all Bermudian, parents whose children are Bermudian and foreigners who were allowed to be register as voters before 1976. Permanent Residents Certificates (PRC) can be applied for by an unspecified number of long-term residents who have been in Bermuda on or before August 1 1989, who have been resident for at least 20 years. They must be at least 40 years of age and must apply before August 1, 2010.

People with Working Resident Certificates can apply to have them transferred to the PRC without having to pay an additional fee.

UBP MP Trevor Moniz, who has long championed the cause of long term residents said he, too, was disappointed about the delay saying it will cause additional hardship to the long term residents.

"I understand the personnel constraints particularly in light of the need to deal with the new British citizen passport available to Bermudians. However these are challenges which should have been foreseen and the three and a half month delay will cause hardship."