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"Premier Ewart Brown's decision to allow four Guantánamo detainees to resettle on the Island was a lawful one, said Attorney General Kim Wilson.

Speaking for the first time on the controversy, she told the Senate that the line between domestic and foreign policy is blurred in today's climate.

And she confirmed it is in Immigration Minister David Burch's remit to decide who can reside on the Island a belief expressed by Dr. Brown. Governor Sir Richard Gozney has said it should have been the UK's decision because it pertained to foreign policy.

"Some may not interpret the legislation as I did," Senator Wilson stated. "As I read it, it is clear the Minister, and his decision to allow them to land and remain, is within his discretion."

She added it was her interpretation of the Immigration Act that Minister Burch was able to grant permission for people to land or reside in Bermuda. However, she stated, it was also her interpretation of the law that the four Uighurs were not eligible for permanent residency certificates"

http://www.theroyalgazette.com/siftology.royalgazette/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7d9712f30030001&sectionId=60

So - these four cannot fly to the US - presumably cannot fly over US airspace either. Whether London will permit that I don't know? They can't have permanent residency here - so are they effectively stateless, other than the ability to return to China?

Presumably they will be given work permits - but for how long?

Don't be silly.  They will marry in to the population within six years, kids in school within ten.

And, from what I've seen, they won't be discriminated against any more than any other group.   ;)

Why didn't I think of that? Mind you, in terms of work, given the current problems in China, I guess these guys won't be working at Chopsticks.

Interesting too, that today that the BBC report said that the Chinese made reference to the link to al Qaeda. In China - of course.

As a TLGBI rights advocate... it seems to me that Bermuda's Uighur accommodating government would find itself somewhat embarrassingly obligated to hastily amend Bermuda's present omissive human rights legislation without further ado, should one or more of its sponsored Uighur guests happenstance be gay or gender-variant...

Some chance Brendalana.

I just had a fit of the giggles sitting here thinking how this homophobic society would react.

Sir Richard: "Well Premier, I am pleased to advise that the 4 ex detainess are not a threat to Bermuda's security".
Premier: "Excellent news Sir Richard".
Sir Richard: There is one other thing you might need to know....they are gay".
Sir Richard: Premier? Premier - are you all right?"

Love you not too far fetched scenario, Martin...

If hearsay about senator David Burch's sexual orientation < http://barkingmadinamblebythesea.blogspot.com/2009/07/i-say-you-dont-say-say-what.html > is true.  Maybe your penned premier's shock was an immediate reactive fear of guilt by association over the possible ulterior motive behind his sidekick's enthusiastic involvement in bringing the Uighurs to Bermuda for sexual pleasure becoming public gossip...

Have a great weekend...

B+...