need to bring in non-Bermudians to fill some jobs. It's a debate that will probably last well into the future because this tiny Island with limited resources has turned itself into a highly sophisticated society with demands which greatly exceed those which might reasonably be expected by 60,000 people living in some 21 square miles.

Bermuda is not a simple society. It is populated by people with high expectations of everything from the economy to entertainment. Indeed, Bermudians often complain of the lack of specialised expertise which can reasonably be expected only in major urban centres.

When Bermuda cannot itself fill the jobs it wants filled, some people complain that we are once again looking overseas for human talent. Yet, if the job is not filled and needs are not met, those very same people complain that Bermuda is not functioning well.

The major and most recent example of that behaviour was the Progressive Labour Party complaints about growing crime and poor policing, followed by more complaints when top policemen were brought in to address the problem. The truth is that there are a number of highly skilled and lucrative jobs in Bermuda and not enough skilled Bermudians to fill them all. If we want to live as well as we do, we have to have help. That is a fact of life. It comes about because we have developed a highly productive economy and we have done that by using outside expertise and by bringing in trained non-Bermudians.

It is estimated that every senior person who is brought into the Island generates three jobs for Bermudians. Hence, full employment for Bermudians. It is important not to forget the extremely high standard of living enjoyed by Bermudians and that a good deal of that high standard has been created by the labour of non-Bermudians.

Yet the same politicians who demand more and more benefits for Bermudians also spend a good deal of time encouraging fear by complaining that "expats'' are taking jobs. It is an easy thing to do especially when politicians join fear with race. Yet the exact opposite is true; non-Bermudians generate jobs.

It is impossible to tell how many complaints from members of the public are genuine or how many have been encouraged by politicians scoring points in search of votes. Over the years it has seemed that the sensible Bermudian public is not unduly bothered by non-Bermudians working in Bermuda and that most of the problem is caused by disruptive politicians.

Foreign workers at the top of the scale generate jobs for Bermudians and very seldom has there been any justification for claims that they are taking jobs from qualified Bermudians. At the bottom of the scale, non-Bermudians are filling necessary support jobs which Bermudians no longer want or no longer see as desirable.