The public is struggling to understand the recent turn taken by politics in Bermuda, according to Opposition Senator Diallo Rabain — who was barred from discussing alleged remarks made by One Bermuda Alliance Senator Lynne Woolridge.

Senator Rabain told the Upper House he felt surprised that the OBA had gone “completely silent” over what he said had been a confrontation by Senator Woolridge of a Progressive Labour Party supporter at the Sandys South polling station during the November 18 by-election.

Sen Rabain alluded to an Opposition follower being “verbally assaulted with vulgar language” as he discussed, during the motion to adjourn, how an earlier confrontation between PLP Leader Marc Bean and former OBA Senator Toni Daniels had managed to get spoken of “ad nauseam” in Parliament.

However, Senate President Carolann Bassett stopped Sen Rabain as he suggested that Sen Woolridge, who is also the OBA chairwoman, needed to clarify what had happened.

“Are you saying that the Senator sitting here is the one that made the remarks?” she asked. “It does not need to be around this table unless you have proof.”

Sen Rabain said he had no firsthand knowledge of the incident, prompting Sen Bassett to reply: “It is hearsay — it does not belong here.”

The Opposition Senator agreed, saying that had been his reason for seeking clarification.

“It’s no secret that politics in Bermuda has taken a decided turn that the public is struggling to get to grips with,” Sen Rabain continued.

“I certainly hope that what we have seen since we came back is not indicative of what we will see for the next three years.”

He said that chatter across the political spectrum was aimed at catching out PLP politicians instead of the Government getting on with the people’s business.

Sen Rabain suggested that it was motivated by “wonderful policies that should be in place” not being enacted, while jobs and new companies were not being created.

He also accused the OBA of wanting to deflect attention from a “no-bid contract that was struck in the dark of the night” with the Canadian Commercial Corporation to build a new airport terminal for the Island.

“Privatisation, under our noses — that’s exactly what that is,” he added, saying it would result in a billion dollars in revenue being given up during the lifetime of the deal.

Sen Woolridge spoke next, telling Senators that it had been three weeks since Mr Bean’s alleged confrontation with Ms Daniels during the advanced polls for constituency 33.

At the time that she had issued a statement on November 10 condemning Mr Bean. “Everything seemed to be he said, she said”, she said.

“Later that week, when the response to the Throne Speech was being read in another place and the OBA retired to the lounge, we were accused of acting like children,” Sen Woolridge continued, saying that the press had been reluctant to print the remarks that had been attributed to Mr Bean and “people couldn’t understand why we were so incensed”.

After the Reply to the Throne Speech, Mr Bean had given a radio interview on HOTT 107 directing numerous accusations at the OBA, which the party had transcribed.

“That, I believe, was the basis for words used in another place,” Sen Woolridge said, referring to Premier Michael Dunkley’s condemnation of Mr Bean’s statements during Friday’s sitting of Parliament.

She said the public “will now understand why we were so incensed”, and that she’d been gratified by expressions of support that she had received.

The condemnation of Mr Bean was a matter of principle, she said, concerning women and how they should be treated.

Of the suggestion that the issue was being used for deflection, Sen Woolridge said “nothing could be farther from the truth”, and that Government would fully address topics such as the new airport terminal, gaming, new hotels, the America’s Cup and the Auditor General’s report on the Port Royal Golf Course refurbishment.

“We women are masters of multitasking,” she added.

Independent Senator James Jardine addressed the Chamber next, pointing out that the airport memorandum of understanding signed thus far with CCC was a non-binding agreement that “does not really tie the Government of Bermuda to anything”. Sen Jardine also calculated that Government stood to pay out some $112 million over the deal, rather than the billion cited by the Opposition.

OBA Senator Jeff Baron refuted Sen Rabain’s assertion that the airport terminal deal spelled privatisation for the facility, telling the Upper House that ownership of the airport would remain with the people of Bermuda.

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