New rights for long-term residents have been defended after Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda decried the move as one that would inevitably discriminate against black Bermudians.

Lynne Woolridge, the chairwoman of the One Bermuda Alliance, responded last night in support of the “pathways to status”, announced last Friday by Michael Fahy, the Minister of Home Affairs.

In previous remarks, Senator Fahy had “unequivocally” stated that the OBA Government “is not in the business of encouraging immigration from the UK or anywhere else”, she said.

Senator Woolridge branded it “ridiculous” to link today’s immigration policy with past attempts to economically and politically discriminate against black Bermudians. She described present immigration policy as “a hodgepodge of stopgap measures” that had fallen afoul of international legal and human rights obligations.

“Additionally, in Bermuda, we have been overtaken by events,” Senator Woolridge added. “The Chief Justice’s decision in The Minister of Home Affairs v Carne and Correia, a case made possible by a mistake of the previous administration, made it clear that part of our immigration policy was not only unfair, but unlawful, and needed to be altered.”

That 2014 ruling, which allowed for certain holders of Permanent Resident’s Certificates to apply for Bermudian status, could not possibly be undone retroactively, she said. Senator Woolridge said that Curb had ended up on “the wrong side” of the argument over the island’s international human rights obligations.

“We must never forget our history, but in today’s context, while the world is watching, we must understand that the minister is doing the right thing,” she said. “That will be obvious to those who are able to make a clear and unprejudiced judgment.”

• For the full Lynne Woolridge release, click on the PDF link under “Related Media”