It's not often the Progressive Labour Party and United Bermuda Party sing from the same song sheet, but for a quarter of an hour in the early hours of Saturday they did just that in one of the most bizarre events ever seen in the House of Assembly.

Following a marathon debate on Caricom which ended at around 2.15 a.m., MPs were planning to go home when Peter Yarrow of 60s folk group Peter, Paul and Mary requested a chance to play for them.

Mr. Yarrow, who had been on the Island to promote Operation Respect, his campaign to persuade schoolchildren not to be cruel to disabled students, strolled onto the floor of the House with his guitar and played a medley of the group's greatest hits.

MPs on both sides sang along and clapped hands as Mr. Yarrow played 'Puff The Magic Dragon', 'Don't Laugh at Me' - written for Operation Respect - and 'If I had a Hammer'.

The group played 'If I Had A Hammer' - which became a civil rights anthem - as they marched through Washington with Martin Luther King on his legendary protest in 1963.

MPs clearly showed their age, with most seeming to know all the words, as Mr. Yarrow said he was singing "songs of hope and determination in a challenging time".

"I've played at the Republican and Democrat caucuses in the US and they didn't sing nearly as well as you," he told the MPs.

When the impromptu performance ended, every MP in House gave Mr. Yarrow a standing ovation.

Speaker Stanley Lowe said yesterday he was unaware of any previous musical performance in the House.

"It was most unusual, but I can't say that (it has happened before). I think it went down very well and was very well received by the members and it set the tone for the festive season after a very acrimonious debate," he said.

After the performance, Mr. Yarrow told The Royal Gazette: "To be able to sing to both sides of the aisle at once, it has to be non-political to have a meaningful connection, and because I was able to do that, that meant that it was a great privilege."