MPs clashed in a race row in the House of Assembly yesterday.

The controversy broke out after One Bermuda Alliance MP Trevor Moniz, the Shadow Attorney-General, clashed with Diallo Rabain, education minister for the ruling Progressive Labour Party.

Mr Moniz said: “He’s on the front bench over there, so he thinks he’s a wonderful boy.”

The remark sparked groans from MPs. Mr Rabain hit back: “If that man calls me boy again, I won’t be sitting here — I’ll be right over there.”

Mr Moniz withdrew the remarks after he was pulled up by Dennis Lister, Speaker of the House.

Mr Lister said: “Mr Moniz, I was slow reacting on that.

“I’m going to ask you to withdraw the comment.”

He added: “Let’s not go to that level again.”

Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, Leader of the Opposition, said she did not make any excuses for anybody.

She added: “When barbs are thrown at me, I have to take it.

“Let us not be so thin-skinned that every word that everybody says somehow creates this great big offence.”

Jamahl Simmons, the tourism minister, told the House: “My grandparents had to put up with racists — I do not.

“Let us rid ourselves of the mindset where it is acceptable to call a black man a boy.”

Shadow tourism minister Leah Scott said: “I do not commend the language that was used in this House.

“Anybody who knows me knows there are some things that go on that I do not agree with.

“This debate was extended far longer than it needed to be, and I apologise for the time that was wasted.”

The row flared up again during the motion to adjourn.

Mr Rabain described Mr Moniz’s comments as “sad language”, and said that the incident “speaks volumes to any person of colour in Bermuda”.

He added: “If a white member has the audacity to speak to a black member in this House in that tone, we can only imagine how he speaks about us and of black people in Bermuda in the comforts of his personal spaces.”

Mr Rabain said the comment was then defended by Ms Gordon-Pamplin.

The statement drew a point of order from Ms Gordon-Pamplin, who said that she did not defend the comment.

Mr Rabain added: “If that’s what she feels is necessary to gain acceptance by the white members of that side, then so be it.

“But this side will not bow our heads, avert our eyes, or shuck and jive to get acceptance by any white member of this society.”

Ms Gordon-Pamplin said: “Let me say, without fear of contradiction, I don’t need to be accepted by anybody on my party.”

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