Bermudian status will not be granted wholesale to long-term residents -- but security may be given to people with close ties to the Island.

The news came as Government presented to MPs a report on long-term residents.

A special category of nearly 300 people appear to be high on Government's list of those it intends offering status.

These are residents who have the right to vote in Bermuda by way of their Commonwealth Citizenship and presence on the Island in 1976.

The hundreds of spouses of Bermudians and their children waiting for a chance at status may also get some reprieve if locals approve of the proposed changes in the Green Paper on Long Term Residents.

Others likely to breathe a sigh of relief are dozens of people who cannot get status because they left the Island during their lifetimes, thereby losing their eligibility.

Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox yesterday tabled the Green Paper calling for "wide ranging'' discussion locally about the proposals.

But her Shadow, the United Bermuda Party's Michael Dunkley, said that at "first glance'' the Green Paper was nothing more than a copy of a UBP Green Paper produced several years ago.

Following up on a pre-election promise, the Green Paper focused on the type of permanent residency and to whom it would be granted, Ms Cox said.

Ms Cox said long-term residents added to the "whole tapestry of Bermudian society'' and "what we are talking about here is the launching pad of discussion''.

Long-term residents had been "permitted, or tacitly'' allowed to live in Bermuda for extended periods, Ms Cox told Parliamentarians.

"However, we cannot be seen to allow non-Bermudians an unfettered right to come to Bermuda and to gain permanent residency,'' Ms Cox explained, comparing the situation to traffic overcrowding and other kinds of population dynamics.

"The resolution of the position of the long-term residents in Bermuda must not compromise the position of those who are Bermudian,'' she continued, "or ignore such quality of life issues for Bermudians as the impact that conferring permanent residency on non-nationals may have on job opportunities for Bermudians.'' `Blanket status grant' ruled out Ms Cox said a blanket status grant "is firmly ruled out as the preferred option'' by Government which is committed to maintaining the strict moratorium on the grants except for certain spouses and children.

She admitted there may be a call for a relaxation to the rule. This could be included in a follow up White Paper.

Government appears at the minimum to be prepared to grant status to the more than 300 Commonwealth Citizens who already have the right to vote in Bermuda.

Ms Cox called the Green Paper a "shopping list'' and "precursor'' to humanitarian criteria for solving the problem.

And she downplayed the potential for a green card system as found in the US, saying "it's not an appropriate model''.

Government plans a series of public meetings and a potential television discussion of the issue.

"I have consistently indicated that this Government would present its Green Paper before the House (of Assembly) rose for the summer,'' she said.

"So said, so done. The main focus will be to encourage public debate so that when it is time for this House to consider and debate this Green Paper, we can do so in the knowledge that we have consulted with the public and sought their input as stake holders in the community.'' Ms Cox added: "We have hinted throughout what we prefer but we are putting this to the public before we make a final determination.'' But Mr. Dunkley said: "I have perused it somewhat and I can say that I'm a bit disappointed with it. The simple fact is they have had the last 18 months to produce a report and it appears to be nothing more than what the UBP did.

"But at least this does mean we are progressing forward,'' he added.

Long awaited: The cover of Government's discussion paper on Bermuda's long-term residents.