A political activist, calling for a referendum on the status of long-term residents, yesterday presented a petition to two Shadow Ministers.

Hotel worker Raymond Russell said he spearheaded the 400-name petition to give Bermudians a say in what rights long term residents would have.

The issue was debated by MPs in a Green Paper last year and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness is now formulating amendments which he will put to the House at the next Parliamentary session.

Possible changes could include waiving the three-year advertising policy for jobs held by long-term residents, giving people with 20 years residence an automatic right to work or granting full Bermuda status to long-term residents.

Yesterday, 58-year-old hotel worker Raymond Russell, of Pembroke, who spearheaded the petition, presented the petition to Shadow Home Affairs Minister Alex Scott and Shadow Works Minister Stanley Morton outside the House of Assembly.

"I'm hoping that by presenting this to Mr. Scott he will pursue a referendum because I think that it is the only fair way to decide the long-term issue'' Mr. Russell said. "I don't think it should be done by 40 members of parliament. It's too important to my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to come.'' Mr. Scott said he had agreed to a request from Mr. Russell to raise the matter in the House.

"I think Mr. Russell has made the point that we find when we canvass -- the Bermudians feel very strongly about the issue of long-term residents,'' Mr.

Scott said. "And I think that's why we in the Opposition have always maintained that yes, the expanding of rights to long-term residents is important.

"But I think what Mr. Russell has also brought forth in a very visual way is that there must be a package of protections for Bermudians because he is looking not only to himself but more significantly to the young folks coming along.'' Mr. Scott said issues like the impact on the local infrastructure, school space and the job market must be considered.

"There has to be a balancing of rights,'' he added. "It is a right for Bermudians but it is a privilege that we are extending to long-term residents.'' Mr. Scott said Mr. Russell's actions -- bringing his five grandchildren to the steps of the House of Assembly -- had brought the message "home'' dramatically.

"If we didn't get the message before, we certainly do now,'' he added.

On the issue of a referendum, Mr. Scott said the matter was better left in the hands of MPs.

"I think we are brought here to make those hard decisions,'' he said. "I think we have to take the initiative and if we fail to address it properly, the public will vote us out the next time.'' IMMIGRATION IMM HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA