The lawsuit undertaken by the former One Bermuda Alliance government put Bermuda’s treaty relationship with the United States at risk, the Speaker of the House said on Friday night.

Denis Lister said: “Our treaty relationship was in threat, based on what I have in front of me.”

Mr Lister’s statement came after reading an e-mail he was presented by David Burt, the Premier, during the motion to adjourn in the House of Assembly.

Mr Burt had sought to read the e-mail during his address to Parliament.

But Mr Lister warned Mr Burt against reading the letter.

He explained: “If it’s sensitive, I don’t think it should be made public.”

Mr Lister said he would read the last line from the e-mail.

He read: “This is a very important matter which can have an impact on our treaty relationship.

“I am available to speak with you at your convenience. And it’s signed by the individual.” Mr Lister would not read the full content of the e-mail or identify the persons named.

But Mr Lister said: “It did come from a senior officer in the US Criminal Justice Department.”

He said the e-mail was addressed to former Attorney-General Trevor Moniz’s chambers.

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