Up to 50 protesters gathered outside Parliament to voice their anger at the Premier’s plans to close a Government-funded clinic.

The group marched to the House of Assembly yesterday to show their support for the Medical Clinic, which provides care to vulnerable people including the homeless, elderly and mentally ill.

Premier Dr. Ewart Brown, who left an in-progress session on the Budget to confront the crowd face to face, was faced with a series of questions from placard-waving campaigners.

They accused him of failing to consult the public over the move and demanded to know how the clinic’s patients will get treatment in the future.

Dr. Brown responded by revealing that patients would be able to use one of six doctors around the Island.

He insisted all the services they currently enjoy would still be available and urged them to give the new system a try for six months.

Protesters said they were glad of the chance to speak to the Premier — but took him to task for not directly seeking their input sooner or on his own initiative.

Katherine Custodio, who identified herself as a volunteer at the clinic, asked the Premier: “When have you ever been to the clinic to see how our clinic operates?”

The Premier responded: “I’ve only been through there very briefly. And I understand that the clinic operates very well.

“The principle behind the closure of the clinic has nothing to do with the quality of the operation. There are many instances in life where you will find a lot of efficiency but it’s rotten at the core — rotten in terms of its concept.”

One campaigner said to Premier Brown: “You didn’t consult the people.”

The Premier responded: “We consulted the people through their doctors.”

Some protestors laughed at that response and others threw up their hands in disgust.

Dr. Brown continued: “Let me be straightforward about this — I know some of you may not appreciate this — it does not mean because you don’t have money that you are not consulted.”

Explaining his decision to leave the Budget debate to confront the campaigners, Dr. Brown said: “I thought it was the correct thing to do, to come down. I’ve never had this opportunity and I love to have this kind of exchange.”

Earlier this month, Dr. Catherine Wakely resigned from her position at the clinic shortly after The Royal Gazette published her letter in support of the centre.

It is understood Dr. Wakely was asked to relinquish her duties by Bermuda Hospitals Board the day after her letter appeared in this newspaper.

Dr. Wakely said last night: “It is clear that the clinic has a lot of support. It is excellent to see that the patients have created their own forum by which their opinions can be heard.”

During the protest, former Premier Alex Scott joined Premier Brown just outside the House of Assembly, along with Government MPs George Scott and Ottiwell Simmons as well as Cabinet senior staffers Sen. Wayne Caines and Scott Simmons.

Protesters held up signs. One read: “Keep the Clinic Open.” Another directed people to a protestors’ website.

Members of the Opposition also left the Parliament building to stand among the crowd — Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert, Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, Jon Brunson, and Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson.

Mrs. Jackson said: “The Premier did not consult these people about closing the clinic. In other words the people don’t count. People come second, second-class citizens. Every country has a medical clinic. And we’re the richest country in the world, yet we’re the only country now that’s not going to have a medical clinic for our needy people.”

When Premier Brown was done fielding questions he thanked Mrs. Jackson for organising the march to Parliament.

She denied being an organiser and called what the Premier said a cheap political shot to cover up for his lack of a plan. She said: “I’m not the organiser. I would like to take that honour, but I’m not the organiser.”

Dr. Brown announced the closure of the clinic in his Throne Speech last November, claiming its patients were suffering from a lack of dignity.

That line has been repeated a number of times by Government, but campaigners argue patients do not feel a lack of dignity.

In the Motion to Adjourn at the House of Assembly last night, Mrs. Jackson questioned why Bermuda Hospital Board (BHB) had apparently changed its opinion over the clinic’s value.

She claimed BHB had previously “crowed” about the facility. But she said: “Then, all of a sudden, there’s a reverse when the administration changes, and the clinic is going to be closed.”

Mrs. Jackson describer the plan Dr. Brown unveiled earlier in the day as “beyond vague”.

“It’s very weak and a very sad explanation of what they are going to do in the future,” she said.

Fellow Opposition MP Patricia Gordon-Pamplin then took to her feet and accused Dr. Brown of bringing “race” into the argument.

She said Dr. Brown had told protesters: “Even blacks resisted the abolition of slavery.”

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin described the remark as “condescending”.

“There’s some times when that attitude is completely inappropriate,” she said. “The people who are needy need understanding, not condescending attitudes.”