saying it was inconsistent and unfair.

The Portuguese Bermudian Organisation claimed hundreds of people born to Bermudian women abroad were now entitled to Bermuda status under recently passed legislation removing sexual discrimination from the 1956 Immigration Act.

But a smaller number of children born here to Portuguese residents were still being "denied their birthrights'' -- even though they had lived here all their lives.

The Immigration Department had "failed to tackle the whole problem'' concerning Bermuda status, vice-chairman Mr. Michael Medeiros charged.

"The organisation applauds the UBP Government on the recent legislation granting birth rights to foreign born children of Bermudian women,'' he said.

"Regrettably, Government has not chosen to implement any changes to the plight of Bermuda-born non-Bermudians who have been denied their birth right since 1956.

"We urge Government to once again, using statistics provided by our organisation, address the human rights violations of these individuals and their long-term resident parents living in Bermuda.

According to Government census statistics, the number of people between 18 and 26 who were born and raised here added up to "a mere 103'', Mr. Medeiros noted.

He said the number of people born to Bermuda women abroad could exceed 1,000.

In a letter to The Royal Gazette , Mr. Medeiros accused Government Senators of making contradictory statements during the debate over the legislation last week.

According to newspaper reports, Sen. Maxwell Burgess said he believed in human rights and justice, he said.

And Sen. Jerome Dill stated he was not worried about whether the legislation was going to place stress on the Island's infrastructure.

"How about giving the birthrights that have been denied to the children born and raised right here at home?,'' Mr. Medeiros asked. "Surely, Senators and Members of Parliament, you would want to make these people Bermudian before the next General Election too! Or maybe not, for these people may not be so thankful to the UBP as their counterparts living overseas!'' He hoped the "1,000-plus new Bermudians'' would make up for the "exodus of 25,000 Portuguese-Bermudian voters...come voting day''.