By Jonathan Bell and Gareth Finighan

The Opposition Progressive Labour Party is calling on all Bermudians to unite and take action to have Governor George Fergusson recalled.

Party leader Marc Bean claimed that Bermudians had become second-class citizens whose rights had been trampled on by Mr Fergusson, who had “made a mockery of Parliament and disrespected the Bermudian people”.

Mr Bean issued a statement on the steps of the House of Assembly this morning after Government House had turned down PLP-led calls for a Commission of Inquiry into allegations of historic land grabs.

Shadow Immigration Minister Walton Brown tabled the motion in Parliament last week. Although Government did not support the call, it was passed after Deputy Speaker Suzann Roberts-Holshouser voted for it.

But last nightMr Fergusson said that, although the debate had raised “serious concerns”, they were not clear enough or urgent enough to warrant a Commission of Inquiry.

This morning Mr Bean described that decision as an insult to every voter which had undermined the people’s will and “robbed” them of democracy.

He urged all Bermudians “to express their grave displeasure at this offensive action” adding that the PLP will march on Government House next Tuesday calling for “the immediate recall of the Governor and the immediate restoration of our limited democracy”.

Mr Bean also revealed that the Opposition will not attend any further sessions of Parliament “which over the last 18 months has been reduced to a sham and a farce”.

Flanked by fellow PLP MPs, Mr Bean said: “Our forefathers have fought for our rights and in 2014 the Progressive Labour Party will not stand by while our rights are trampled upon. We will not allow our people, who are already second-class citizens to be systematically reduced to third-class citizenship in the country of their birth.

“Now is the time to have courage and faith in ourselves and avoid temptation in appeasing those who act in a manner that is contrary to the interests of the community.

“The Progressive Labour Party unequivocally rejects the Governor’s actions. He has acted outside of his remit by undermining the people’s will. He has made a mockery of Parliament and disrespected the Bermudian people. In his failure to act, democracy has been robbed from the people of this country. This is the latest of many steps by this Governor, who represents the UK Government, which are questionable and problematic.”

“I’m calling on every single right-thinking Bermudian, whether you voted for the One Bermuda Alliance, the Progressive Labour Party, or you decided not to vote, this goes beyond party politics, it is about us asserting our rightful place in the country of our birth. So yes we encourage everyone to come and march up Government House. Obviously it’s time to take action.”

Mr Brown then issued a brief statement in which he described the Governor’s decision as “an affront to democracy”.

“There was a clear demonstration through Parliament of what the people wanted and that was a Commission of Inquiry,” Mr Brown said.

“We have no doubt in our minds that the Governor has been influenced in his decision by this collusion among those who may well be identified as some of these claims as well as members of the OBA. It is reminiscent of what took place in the 1960s. We have this collusion among those who held political power, those with economic power working with the Governor to repress the people’s aspirations and people’s rights, so this calls for his immediate recall, it cries out for a just outcome and the only just outcome is to have a Commission of Inquiry.”

Mr Bean then added: “We understand and recognise exactly what the intention of Government House and others who have been speaking to the Governor, encouraging him to do what he can to ensure that justice is not served in this country. We understand the spirit behind it and as far as we’re concerned democracy has been robbed from the people of this country — it is our responsibility to ensure that it is restored.

Asked if he knew of anyone who had attempted to influence the Governor’s decision, Mr Bean replied: “We’re not going to call any names. I think the people of this country can connect the dots. It’s a not-so-subtle secret — in fact it’s not a secret — as to the long-standing relationship that the UK has with some persons in this country. The word ‘collusion’ was used but it can also be looked at as a partnership and it’s an unhealthy relationship because the majority of the people of this country have sacrificed for narrow self-interest and quite frankly enough is enough.

Asked if he believed the Governor’s reasons for rejecting an inquiry had any merit, Mr Bean replied: “No, none. The people have spoken through their representatives in a democratically elected Government so whatever rational His Excellency has decided to present to us as to avoid a Commission of Inquiry holds no weight nor water and we do not give it any credence or recognition.”

Mr Bean concluded by saying that his party’s responsibility “to mobilise and awaken the people and their consciencness in this country for them to start having the courage to become the masters of our own destiny”.

“Remember we pay the Governor’s wage, we pay all his expenses — he is a civil servant who represents Her Majesty and the FCO in the UK, but we as a people are still second-class citizens and so we’re not going to stand by and allow even in this second class status, our rights to be trampled upon,” he said.

“And so it’s our responsibility to mobilise the people of this country and I hope those who are right-thinking and have a conscience are willing to come and join with us because again a new relationship has to be created in this country. If not the country’s going to have ... a very long and hot summer and I don’t think anyone is willing to take that risk.

“Enough is enough and the time for us to take action is now.”