Opposition MPs launched a scathing attack on the Bermuda Government’s bid to strengthen their stewardship of the Corporation of Hamilton, citing allegations of serious wrongdoing.

They branded the move to debate the Municipalities Amendment Act 2015 yesterday in the House of Assembly as “scandalous”, “odious” and “arrogant” in light of the bribery accusations contained in an affidavit made by developer Michael MacLean.

The affidavit, which relates to Mr MacLean’s continuing legal battle with the Government over plans to develop Hamilton waterfront and Par-la-Ville car park, became the focus of the debate with Progressive Labour Party deputy leader David Burt suggesting that the One Bermuda Alliance cabinet was “tainted in corruption”. The claim was swiftly rejected as “absolute nonsense” by Grant Gibbons, the Minister of Economic Development.

During a heated five-hour debate that ultimately ended with the Bill being passed, PLP MPs rounded on Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy.

“If these allegations are proven that the minister got embroiled in the waterfront case and sought to improve his position financially, and now he is arrogating to himself the power to control the land lot of the waterfront, this is scandalous,” said Shadow Attorney-General Michael Scott.

“We are accommodating or facilitating deeply concerning powers to a minister in relation to a matter under investigation.”

Attorney-General Trevor Moniz interjected that there was no such investigation, adding: “There is a civil court case and an affidavit has been filed.”

Dr Gibbons later told the House that further affidavits that denied the allegations in Mr MacLean’s affidavits had been prepared.

Mr Burt said that members of the OBA backbench should feel “ashamed that they allowed their Government to bring this Bill here today”.

“It’s important we remind the public why we are here and why is it necessary for Michael Fahy to give himself more control of the corporation,” he said. “This is because they messed it up in the first place — it all has to do with Jetgate, the waterfront, extortion, bribery and tapes.”

He added: “To have the audacity to bring it here today; the current Premier knew of the existence of these tapes, contacts the developer to discuss the tapes and then denies he ever spoke to him.”

Referring to the Bill, Mr Burt added: “This is the wrong Bill, the wrong time and brought by a government under a cloud. It is something that we should not in any way, shape of form be proceeding on.”

Sylvan Richards, the Junior Minister of Home Affairs, had previously cited “bad apples” in the former Hamilton administration as justification for the new Bill.

He said the Government’s hand had been forced on the issue, but added that it was in the Island’s national interest.

The amended Act allows the minister to assume control of the finances of either corporation if he believes they are being mismanaged, or control of the corporations entirely if he believes they are being mismanaged. The minister is also empowered to give written directions to a corporation, including orders for it to discontinue or restrict activities, and may also delegate his powers to a representative.

Opposition leader Marc Bean condemned the move as arrogant, saying the legislation was inextricably linked to allegations of bribery surrounding the waterfront deal for Hamilton.

Walton Brown said the statute would create a “mockery of a democracy” in which elected officials would not be able to make their own decisions.

“There is a cloud cast over everything involving the OBA Government, the corporation and developers,” he said. “We don’t support this change. We don’t support this Bill, in part because of the cloud that has been cast over it.”

Finance Minister Bob Richards, however, said that the PLP’s accusations of practices causing “the potential appearance of corruption” were ridiculous. “If pigs had wings, they would have the potential appearance of a 747,” he said.

PLP MP Glenn Blakeney said the controversies plaguing the OBA threaten foreign investment. “There needs to be an atonement, and the people who may be culpable need to remove themselves and do themselves and their country the honour if they are at all responsible,” he told the House.

Shadow Minister of Tourism Zane DeSilva, meanwhile, listed several of the controversies that the OBA has become embroiled in, including the allegations made in the leaked affidavit. “[OBA MP Patricia Gordon-Pamplin] said several times if you give her any evidence of any wrongdoing she will say to her people, ‘Get cracking’.

“Some of the evidence that has been presented this week talks about Cabinet papers being bandied about among members of the public sector. These are serious allegations.”

Wayne Furbert urged OBA members to listen to leaked recordings purportedly containing a discussion involving Sen Fahy and a member of the public discussing previous legislation.

“I heard a tape, a discussion between Stephen DeCosta and Michael Fahy on the amendment we debated in Parliament in 2013,” he said.

“It’s on Facebook. We were tricked, Mr Speaker, with the amendment to do with the actual waterfront property.

“How can I trust the same minister today?

“How can I trust the same minister to bring an amendment when I don’t know what’s behind it?

“It was all about, ‘How do we get a piece of it?’ That’s what it was all about.

“We need to pause. We definitely need to pause on this Bill to go and at least read that information, listen to the tape and ask if we are doing the right thing.”

The Bill was passed on party lines nonetheless, by 18 votes to 16.

• Additional reporting by Jonathan Bell and Owain Johnston-Barnes