Senator Jeff Baron, Minister of National Security, said he was “troubled and concerned” by the altercation between police and protesters last week.

And he pointed out he was not consulted before police moved in.

The comments came shortly after Walter Roban, the Shadow Minister of National Security, released a statement questioning the senator’s silence.

In a statement this evening, Mr Baron said: “Certainly I remain troubled and concerned about the events that unfolded last Friday. The injuries suffered were unfortunate and regrettable and I have personally reached out to and spoken to those members of the public and to the police officer who was hurt.

“As it relates to the operations on Friday, I wish to advise that as minister I was not consulted, nor informed of the tactical options discussed and decided upon by the Bermuda Police Service or anyone else on Friday.

“As a former public order tactical adviser, I have qualified views on Friday’s demonstrations and enforcement actions. However, the public is reminded that operational control of the Bermuda Police Service is a matter for the commissioner. And as such, under the circumstances it would not be proper for me to comment extensively on the events of Friday with respect to any action taken by the BPS.”

The statement also noted that operational authority and control is vested in the Commissioner of Police by the Police Act.

Mr Baron added that the community needs to come together in the wake of Friday’s clash, doing what is necessary to calm tensions and de-escalate rhetoric from both sides.

“Through diplomacy, not police tactics, we must ensure the country’s political leaders are safely able do their jobs,” he said. “And together as a community we must ensure that what happened on Friday does not happen again.”

Earlier this afternoon, Mr Roban questioned the lack of a comment by Mr Baron, stating: “Comment by the individual responsible in the legislature for the BPS and Police Complaints Authority, Minister of National Security Jeff Baron, is surely warranted.

“The public deserves to know whether Minister Baron supports the use of pepper spray on our seniors and protesters peacefully assembled to show their dissatisfaction with a government bill. Does he feel this was appropriate given that the purpose of the protest was to hold his government to account?

“As the key minister involved with the BPS, should we deem Minister Baron’s silence as support of the actions taken by the BPS and the OBA government?

“Minister Baron certainly relies on his experience as a former Bermuda Police Service officer and UN peacekeeper in carrying out his duties. It is deplorable that he has failed to speak out or take a clear position on police orders that were disproportionate and excessive and carried out contrary to established police policy.”

Mr Roban said that no clear answers about how and why officers “exacted unjustifiable physical force”, saying that he has asked the police commissioner in writing who authorised the use of pepper spray but has not received a response.

In the aftermath of the incident, Commissioner of Police Michael DeSilva described the altercation as “regrettable” but alleged that protesters were acting unlawfully.

Mr DeSilva said that police would investigate a complaint made against an officer involved in the altercation, while more than a dozen members of the public appeared at Hamilton Police Station earlier today with the intention of filing further complaints.

Meanwhile, one man appeared in Magistrates’ Court this morning charged with assaulting an officer during the protest.