Legislation aimed at supporting job creators has been passed in the Senate, despite concerns from Opposition members that the legislation gives up too much.Home Affairs Minister Micheal Fahy, however, denied suggestions legislation aimed at encouraging job makers is “selling Bermuda down the river.”“I can never agree with that,” he said. “It’s not to the lowest bidder, it’s to people who had to fit a certain criteria. They have to show a commitment to Bermuda, they have to show a commitment to training Bermudians.”The Incentives for Job Makers Act 2013 brings the date for those eligible to apply for a Permanent Residency Certificate (PRC) from January 1, 2015, to the present, and decreases the fee of a PRC application from $120,000 to $25,000.The bill also reduces the minimum number of Bermudians employed in order for international firms to qualify for the incentive programme from 25 to ten.The Minister noted that 5,000 people have left the Island in recent years and 3,000 Bermudians are out of work, saying that the figures are connected.By offering PRCs rather than longer work permits, Sen Fahy said the job creators will have a greater emotional connection with the Island, while providing a significant incentive to encourage investment in Bermuda and Bermudians.“We believe it is a happy medium,” he said. “This is what the stakeholders said was acceptable. They believe it works and will encourage more opportunities in the job market.”Senator Marc Daniels said he agrees with the sentiment of the legislation, to improve job opportunities for Bermudians, but had concerns about the long term effect of making it easier to get permanent residence certificates.“Trying to attract business is important, but where do we stop?” he asked. “What is our maximum number in Bermuda?“The concern that I have is that we can be in a position to sell our birthright, to sell our space.“I don’t see in this legislation these type of parameters and question marks being set out.”He said the legislation seemed to be a lost opportunity, and that more could be included to strengthen the bonds between guest workers and Bermudians.Sen Daniels suggested the legislation be set down until the next parliamentary session so that it can be reconsidered and made more forward-thinking so elements in the legislation don’t come back to haunt Bermuda.Fellow PLP Senator Diallo Rabain expressed similar concerns, noting that the spouse and children of PRC holders could also be eligible for PRC status, potentially creating a perpetual issue. Because PRCs are permanent unless revoked, he said certificate holders could keep their PRCs long after they are no longer job makers.“They could close up shop and visit Bermuda every two years and they can keep it active,” he said.And PLP Senator Renee Ming added: “We may be racing at this time and we may be selling ourselves short.“I understand the desperate need for employment, but I think that more could have been done to protect and guarantee Bermudian.”Independent Senator James Jardine, however, said it is important for the Island to be more competitive as more jurisdictions are attempting to get a piece of the international business pie.He said that even with the reduced cost, the price of PRCs will be double that of the Cayman Islands and two-and-a-half times more than the Bahamas.He added that Bermuda must do everything “reasonable and fair” to keep the existing international businesses from leaving while encouraging others to come to the Island.“International business has created jobs for Bermudians, whether it’s directly from IB itself or the support businesses,” he said.“They have brought a lot of jobs to Bermuda and we need where sensible to keep them here.”