The Government is “determined to destroy” former Premier Ewart Brown’s medical practice, a Progressive Labour Party member told the House of Assembly.

MP Glenn Blakeney also claimed a “witch hunt” was under way and said: “I implore whoever is behind it to cease and desist immediately”.

His comment about the OBA trying to “destroy” Dr Brown’s business saw him immediately censured by Speaker of the House Randolph Horton on Friday.

“You can’t say that Government is trying to do that,” the Speaker said. “Retract that.”

Mr Blakeney accepted the rap and moved on, criticising police investigations into Dr Brown’s company, Bermuda Healthcare Services (BHS).

His fellow MPs Walter Roban, Zane DeSilva and Derrick Burgess also raised concerns about inquiries into Dr Brown’s practice, saying that no medical authority had found BHS guilty of any wrongdoing, but police inquiries continued.

Mr Roban said: “It seems to be directed at creating problems for specific members of the community, but why? Why is Bermuda Police Service visiting a medical practice?

“We should be concerned about any activities that appear to be oppressive. Transparency seems to be a word this Government talks about but acts on in an economical way.”

Mr Roban accused “organs of the Government” of trying to “hurt or agitate members of the community” and said “it shouldn’t be going on”.

“Dr Brown has been the subject of a number of these suggestive activities,” he added. “We all want good law and order in this country. It can be carried out by democrats but also by dictators. We believe as a democracy we should speak up when we think something isn’t right.”

Mr DeSilva suggested the Premier question the police’s interest in BHS during his next meeting with senior officers.

“Ask questions and give us information,” he said.

Mr DeSilva accused the OBA of “pointing fingers towards colleagues on this side and strong party members”, asking: “Who’s next, I wonder?”

The issue of a Bermudian shop owner accused of breaching human rights laws by insulting a foreign customer was highlighted too.

It was suggested this inquiry was initially dropped then reopened and given a great deal of publicity because she was a prominent PLP member.

Mr Roban said: “I saw an article that only seemed to appear because of the persons involved. This person is associated with the PLP.

“Why would the Human Rights Commission resurrect this investigation when the person concerned are told there is no case to answer?”

Mr DeSilva also said he was concerned about “a prominent business owner in the back of town, a well-known PLP member” being put under scrutiny after the issue was seemingly dropped.

Closing the debate on the motion to adjourn, Premier Michael Dunkley dismissed the suggestions as nonsense, calling on the Opposition members to provide him with facts.

“Without specifics, without the facts, it’s just innuendo and it really doesn’t mean anything,” Mr Dunkley said. “Any aspersions that organs of the Government are out to get the PLP are nonsense. Absolute nonsense.”

Mr Dunkley said that the Commissioner of Police is easy to reach if the Opposition members have concerns, and if an issue remains, they can bring their complaints to the Police Complaints Authority.