Today Junior Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing Walter Roban updated Bermudians on the real progress the PLP government has made on immigration. MP Roban:

The Department of Immigration is currently compiling the departure information with intelligence received as well as with landing cards to accurately ascertain the numbers of those who have left. Unfortunately this is a manual process that may take some time but the new electronic Border Management System at the airport is greatly assisting in this regard. Initial indications are that both Jamaican and Portuguese nationals have taken advantage of the amnesty – including the first person featured on the Wanted Poster.

Additionally, this week two Immigration Officers accompanied a Jamaican national who had been here illegally for the past ten years. As a result of information received via the Immigration Hotline he was arrested last Friday evening, held in custody over the weekend and escorted to Jamaica on Monday morning.

MP Roban went on to that the Bermudian people for their overwhelming response for our call to provide information on people residing illegally in Bermuda.

During that press conference in September, Minister Burch also mentioned that we would consider offering rewards. I am pleased to say that the response from Bermudians has been overwhelming – in that I have repeatedly heard - ‘Oh no Minister we don’t need a reward, this is our country and we are duty bound to protect it. It doesn’t take a reward for us to fulfill our duty.’ I cannot tell you how gratifying this is as Bermudians acknowledge the fact that they must play their part in protecting Bermuda for their children...

We intend to use whatever means to enforce the law and I encourage anyone who has information on illegal immigrants, those working without permission or outside of their job category to call the Immigration Hot line on 296-5202.

We believe in upholding the rule of law, protecting Bermudian jobs and cracking down on crime. And, it's clear that when it comes to enforcing our immigration laws, the PLP government is getting the job done.

We are not a closed country. Far from it. We are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Thousands of guest workers live and work legally in Bermuda. We treat our guest workers with dignity and respect - and, we have a clear and open process for those wanting to reside here and work. We welcome and honour our guest workers, all we ask is that guest workers come here legally.