Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing, David Burch, gave several updates on his Ministry during the Senate debate on the Budget.

As Immigration Minister, he also warned people to apply for land licences under the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Amendment Act 2007 as soon as possible.

"We've extended the moratorium by two years and both real estate agents and lawyers are lining up. But of the 2,300 acres we estimate are owned by foreigners, only 356 acres have been licensed," he said.

Sen. Burch said if people missed the June deadline, "there will be little sympathy from us". "So those people who are lobbying me need to lobby the law firms so they can get the land licensed."

Government has said expatriates who own land in Bermuda under a licence granted before August 2007 must get the licence validated before June this year.

Expatriates who fail to get their licence validated or sell their property by June could end up being prosecuted under the 2007 Act.

This legislation was introduced to combat the practice of 'fronting', whereby non-Bermudians gain an unlawful interest in land by using a Bermudian 'front'.

Under Bermuda law no more than 400 acres of land can be owned by licensed expats, who are known as restricted persons in the Act, and no more than 2,000 acres of the Island can be owned by licensed expats.

Speaking in the Senate on Monday, Sen. Burch also outlined why foreign prisoners cannot get parole, with the exception of Jamaican nationals.

Even British inmates are unable to get supervised release, something which one UK prisoner is currently appealing.

"There is certainly a court case where a foreign inmate is challenging his right to parole," the Minister told the Senate.

"We don't allow foreign inmates parole but would look to a relationship with their home country to supervise their parole. There is provision in the Parole Act but the only country we have that with is Jamaica.

"Other countries, on an individualised basis we will ask, but this particular case involves a UK national whose parole authority says they won't supervise his parole in the UK, as they don't have a relationship with us."

The Minister also announced the Bermuda Regiment is to gain new Colours this year.

"The Regiment will be presented with new Colours in November by the new Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment," he said.

"Every 25 years or so the Regiment gets a new set of Colours."

HRH The Duchess of Gloucester was appointed Bermuda's Colonel-in-Chief in 2006. The previous Colonel-in-Chief was the late HRH Princess Margaret.

This year also marks the 45th anniversary of the Bermuda Regiment.

Sen. Burch, who was Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment, said: "Through those years the Regiment has produced leaders in this country, one of whom is speaking right now.

"In spite of the challenges of conscription and other challenges in this country, this is the one thing I might have a referendum on if you please the vast majority of people in this country support the Regiment.

"It's the last line of defence in terms of discipline."