The Minister of Immigration says the United Bermuda Party platform for immigration changes is not beneficial to Bermudians.

The UBP has pledged to review the six-year term limit policy and revoke legislation which they believe "adversely affects" Bermudians who plan to buy property with their expatriate spouse.

They have also pledged to review the immigration system and grant Bermuda Status to long-term residents who have lived on the Island for more than 20 years and arrived prior to moratorium imposed in 1989.

Yesterday Minister Derrick Burgess said he did not believe that these moves would be beneficial to Bermuda.

With regard to the six-year term limit for expatriate workers not considered "key employees", Mr. Burgess said that the Department of Immigration had worked very closely with international business to determine who is a key worker.

He added: "I have been very flexible when considering applications from employers, and my door has been open to hear any employer who needs to make the case as to why more time should be granted to their particular employee.

"I also take issue with the claims that the policy does not advance Bermudians. While, as I have said above, the ultimate purpose of this policy is to ensure that no new long-term residents will be created, this policy does improve the aspirations of Bermudians."

He added that he has reviewed files of some long-term residents applying for permanent residence who started out as waiters or secretaries and are now senior managers in companies.

Mr. Burgess said: "While I congratulate them for their initiative, we would be hard-pressed to find an equal number of Bermudians, especially black Bermudians, who can make the same claim."

He also said the UBP would create possibly 6,000 to 8,000 more Bermudians by giving long term residents status: "So my question to the United Bermuda Party is to please explain how their proposed return to the pre-1998 status quo will benefit Bermudians?"