The United Bermuda Party sensationally stormed out of the House of Assembly yesterday declaring that Government has mounted an unprecedented attack on the right to freedom of speech.

The drama exploded into an otherwise run-of-the-mill morning in Parliament when Opposition Whip John Barritt notified the Government of a motion he intended to move in the House: that the House “deplore the failure of Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent to consult with residents of Mary Victoria and Alexandra Road” over the housing units Government plans to build in the area.

Barely had Mr. Barritt finished speaking when to his obvious surprise both Government Whip Ottiwell Simmons and Premier Alex Scott were on their feet loudly objecting to the motion.

Mr. Simmons declared the motion was not proper and that the matter would be more appropriately discussed outside the House (directly with the Minister) to find out exactly what happened. The Premier, on the other hand, denounced the motion as “inaccurate” and “misleading”, declaring that Mr. DeVent did in fact consult with residents - despite 180 of those residents sending the Minister a letter on Thursday expressing their disappointment in the fact that he did not honour his pledge to consult with them, and asking him to withdraw the application to build the housing units until consultation could take place.

To Mr. Barritt's disbelief, Speaker of the House Stanley Lowe ordered that members take a vote. “This is unbelievable!” Mr. Barritt exploded. “I object to the objections! ... Anyone can object and nothing gets done? ... This is crazy!”

As his protestations continued the Premier shot back across the floor, “You're getting a lesson now!”

Though Mr. Barritt vociferously demanded to know what rules the Government's objections came under, murmurings from the Government benches told him “don't worry about it” while several from the backbenches mimicked an English accent.

As the Speaker explained he was taking the names of those present in the chamber in preparation for a vote, Mr. Simmons stood to ask him to “put the question we are voting on to the floor ... for the benefit of all”. However with the loud sniping continuing across the floor Mr. Lowe never answered.

“They still haven't produced the rule,” Mr. Barritt, still on his feet, fired repeatedly. “This can't be right.”

When he demanded to know what would have happened had the Opposition put forward a vote of no confidence in the Government, Deputy Speaker Jennifer Smith rose to support the Speaker. Likening the Speaker to a referee on the field of play, she ordered that when in doubt, the Speaker's word was law.

“The rules book,” she added, “doesn't cover every rule.” As noise from the Opposition benches swelled, she said: “It refers to two other books - and if the rule is not in this book it refers to the other books.”

“I brought that motion to your attention and it was approved,” a frustrated Mr. Barritt told the Speaker.

“Why should I take a seat,” he roared when Mr. Lowe ordered him to sit. “If you don't like what I'm saying throw me out.

“They're using you. They're using you and they're using the rules to shut the debate down ... We still don't know what the rule is.”

Shadow Legislative Affairs Minister Trevor Moniz was also on his feet demanding explain what they were voting on. “We can't proceed till we know,” he said - also refusing to sit down when ordered.

Finally Mr. Lowe attempted to begin calling names for the vote - but the first name on the list was Mr. Barritt's. “I don't know what I'm voting for,” Mr. Barritt said.

An exasperated Mr. Lowe promptly put the motion on what effectively amounts to a time-out, declaring: “I'm not dealing with this until I'm satisfied that the motion complies with the rules.”

“Now you're saying it's not following the rules?” an aghast Mr. Barritt responded, as Deputy Premier Ewart Brown retorted: “The only reason you haven't been thrown out is because of the history of Bermuda.”

Opposition members were already on their feet and collecting their belongings, and with the discussion rapidly degenerating, they filed out - save for Shadow Health Minister Michael Dunkley, who made it clear that he was only waiting to deal with a bill being put forward by Health Minister Patrice Minors, and then he, too, was leaving.

“Recently, motions put forward by the Opposition have tended to be more mischievous than helpful,” the Premier said later at a Press conference.

“We have a rule that one must not mislead the house or attempt to mislead the public ... It is my information from the Minister that he has consulted (with residents),” he said.

“This was an appalling show of disrespect from Mr. Barritt, Mr. Moniz, indeed all of the Opposition ... No rule is more important than respect for the Speaker. Today was unfortunate. I'm sorry the public had to witness it.”

The UBP, who held their own Press conference yesterday on the steps of the House, had a very different take on the subject.

“(Government) has blocked the Opposition from doing what an Opposition is supposed to do,” Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons said.

The morning's events were a “direct attack on freedom of speech”.

“This means Government effectively controls debate,” he said. “If they don't like something the Speaker will block it.”

The PLP Government has allowed a motion of censure by the UBP against the late David Allen, while when the UBP was Government it allowed a motion of censure against former Premier David Saul, Mr. Barritt said - so for Government to object to the motion deploring Mr. DeVent's conduct was completely unprecedented.

Vowing to continue fighting on behalf of the residents of Mary Victoria and Alexandra Roads, Mr. Barritt said: “The Government of the day has, through their majority, simply dictated ... People who disagree, people who want their views heard have been denied the opportunity to have that representation on the floor of the House.”

When asked if Government's move to block the motion was setting a dangerous precedent, Mr. Simmons told The Royal Gazette that the right to freedom of speech must be able to be questioned by the other side, both Government and Opposition.

“I'm satisfied that the way the thing ended up was quite correctly,” he said. “I understood the Speaker to say to the House please give me an opportunity to re-look at the motion and I can return with a decision.

“I quite frankly got impression that Opposition did not hear that.”

Speaker Stanley Lowe last night declined to comment on the matter to The Royal Gazette. His decision on the motion could be made by next week's sitting of the House.