Progressive Labour Party MPs rallied behind Ewart Brown, the former Premier, branding the police investigation into his actions a “witch-hunt”.

Several opposition MPs told the House of Assembly of their dismay at the arrest on May 19 of Mahesh Reddy, chief medical officer of Dr Brown’s Bermuda Healthcare Services, during Friday’s Motion to Adjourn.

Zane DeSilva described the arrest as a “shameful act” adding: “Police have been investigating Dr Brown for almost six years and we have had no report from the police and no report from the Governor”.

He questioned how much the investigation had cost taxpayers and maintained that Dr Brown, Dr Reddy and staff at BHS “deserved better”.

“The most important thing is that Bermuda does not have any time for this nonsense. We don’t have millions to carry out someone’s vendetta,” he said.

“I am asking the Government and the Premier, let’s ask the Governor for an update. Dr Brown said it best when he said ‘put up, or shut up’. This has gone on too long.”

Party colleague Rolfe Commissiong echoed Mr DeSilva’s comments, adding: “What we are seeing here is a witch-hunt.”

He questioned how Dr Reddy could have been arrested without a warrant before urging Bermudians to stand strong with Dr Brown. Derrick Burgess also queried how much had been spent on the investigation on Dr Brown and described the search of Mr Reddy’s house when he was arrested as “illegal”.

Walter Roban added: “Questions of justice were raised and I declare my interest, I too am a client of Dr Reddy, so the incident that happened with him brought extreme concern to myself to say it mildly.”

Responding to the comments, Michael Dunkley told the House that it was inappropriate for him to get involved with police investigations.

“We heard a lot of talk about the investigation into Dr Brown,” the Premier said. “And I am not going to get involved in that investigation, or any investigation at any time.

“If honourable members on that side expect me to answer a question about investigations, they won’t hear it because the next question is ‘why is the Premier getting involved?’ It’s not going to happen.

“The police do their job, politicians should stay out of the way of police investigations.

“While it’s well and good for honourable members on that side to defend the former Premier, I think they need to tread very carefully about investigations of the police. We should not get involved.

“At least three honourable members on that side came to the defence of the former Premier and that’s fine but why aren’t honourable members standing up in here and asking questions every week on young men who are murdered in Bermuda and what’s the status of the investigation?”

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