Progressive Labour Party MPs walked out of the House of Assembly last night after Speaker Randy Horton ordered the Sergeant of Arms to remove Shadow Finance Minister David Burt.

The Speaker had refused to allow debate or objections on an amendment brought by Attorney General Trevor Moniz to a motion from PLP MP Walton Brown.

Mr Brown, Shadow Minister of Immigration, had sought to create a Joint Select Committee to look into immigration reform on the Island.

Mr Moniz’s proposed amendment was to take note of immigration policy and the need to consider continuing reform of such policy.

Mr Burt, one of the PLP MPs to raise objections to the Speaker’s ruling, refused to sit down after he was ordered to take his seat by Mr Horton.

Mr Horton then ordered the Sergeant of Arms to remove him.

The PLP MPs present in the House left with Mr Burt, leaving OBA members to vote on the amended motion, which passed unanimously.

Earlier in the proceedings, Mr Brown had objected to Mr Moniz’s proposed amendment, arguing that it had directly contradicted the “essence” of his motion.

“Under Parliamentary rules, it fundamentally changes the motion so it is not allowed,” he said.

Mr Horton disagreed, saying: “The motion is an acceptable amendment.”

He explained that the proposed amendment “asks members to review the material but only in a take-note fashion”.

Opposition Leader Marc Bean said the intent of the motion to create the joint select committee was to build a consensus in the House.

“A joint select committee means action,” he said. “A take-note motion is just talk.”

After demands from Opposition members to justify his ruling to allow the motion, Mr Horton said: “Whenever a motion is in play, then an amendment may be proposed without notice if it is relevant to the matter under consideration.”

He told members it could be debated after the vote.

Former Attorney General and PLP MP Kim Wilson argued that Erskine May: Parliamentary Practice “allows us to continue the debate of the motion on the floor”.

Mr Bean also argued that Parliamentary rules did not allow an amendment to change the motion into a direct negative, but the Speaker told the Opposition leader: “The decision has been made — everyone has made their comments and according to the standing order, I have ruled.”

Mr Horton also said: “It’s not what you want, I understand, but it is within the manner we run this House.

He instructed Mr Moniz: “ Read the motion.”

As Mr Moniz began reading his amendment, Mr Burt called for a point of order. However, the Speaker ordered him to take his seat.

When Mr Burt continued to argue with the Speaker, Mr Horton stated: “Honourable Member Burt — Mr Fox [the Sergeant of Arms at the House of Assembly], the Honourable Member — [is] to be removed from the House.

Mr Bean interjected, saying all the PLP members would leave.

After the PLP members left the House of Assembly, Mr Moniz, defending his proposed amendment, said: “We are trying to open up this community and make it a welcoming place for people to come and set up businesses and create employment — if we don’t do that we will all fail. If we all fail, who will suffer the most? The average Bermudian will suffer the most.”

Mr Burt released a statement after the Opposition walkout. “The unfortunate events that took place in the House of Assembly this evening were precipitated by the Speaker’s disregard for or inability to understand the fundamental rules of Parliament,” he said. “The Speaker’s actions are making a mockery of the rules and privileges of the House of Assembly and our democracy.

“The most elementary tenet of Parliamentary procedure is that motions and amendments are to be debated in the House.

“The fact that the Speaker of the House refused to allow debate on an amendment to a motion that was put to the House brings the entire democratic process into disrepute and calls into question the Speaker’s ability to properly discharge the functions of his office.”

Mr Burt said the Speaker had twice refused to hear his point of order and “he then refused to acknowledge me when I rose on a point of privilege, a right afforded to all members of the House”.

“Without even hearing my point he proceeded to order me to be removed from the House of Assembly, which is an affront to the rights and privileges of all Members of Parliament,” he added.

“It is my hope that the Speaker will familiarise himself with the rules of Parliament, so that he can cease his pattern of not allowing members of the Opposition to be heard and start to enjoy the confidence of both sides the of the House. Impartiality is the necessary obligation of his office.”

Speaking to The Royal Gazette last night, Premier Michael Dunkley said that the Speaker of the House “should not be made the focal point for the disagreement”.

“He has very difficult decisions to make, often at the drop of a hat,” Mr Dunkley added. “He’s always been keen to take advice from staff within the House and when he makes a ruling we must respect that.

“The Speaker made a ruling, and once the Speaker rules, after listening to any concerns, from either side of the House, as Parliament we must accept it.

“I can recall occasions when the shoe has been on the other foot.”

OBA members had walked out of the House of Assembly protesting Mr Bean’s alleged behaviour towards two female party members.

According to news reports at the time, Mr Burt had said: “Today’s walkout by the One Bermuda Alliance Government wasn’t a walkout on the PLP but it was a walkout on the people of Bermuda.”

Mr Dunkley said last night: “So the people of Bermuda can draw their conclusions.

“The Speaker was not refusing to allow debate on the amended motion, and after the vote on the amended motion, the Speaker did allow debate.

“I’ve been around long enough that I know Parliament can get heated from time to time. That’s fine — but what we need to do, when tempers flair, we need to be able to make decisions and carry ourselves in an appropriate manner.

“Finally, I was most disappointed that while walking out, Members of the Opposition resorted to vitriolic and threatening comments. Let me assure the people of Bermuda that my colleagues and I will never be moved by emotional threats that have no substance or foundation.

“We realise that we govern in very difficult times, and we will continue to work hard to make today and tomorrow better for every Bermudian.”