An allegation made by Housing Minister David Burch about the "potential criminal behaviour" of three opposition MPs has been struck from the record of the Senate.

Senator Burch told the Upper Chamber on June 16 that lawyers Trevor Moniz, John Barritt and Mark Pettingill never mentioned "their own potential criminal behaviour" when they called for Tuesday's land licence deadline to be extended.

Opposition Senate leader Michael Dunkley yesterday asked that a portion of the Minister's remarks be struck out.

Acting Senate president Walwyn Hughes agreed, ruling that the comments contravened rule 48A of the Senate Rules, which does not allow members to make statements that cause offence to or insult members of either the House of Assembly or the Senate.

Sen. Burch was unrepentant, delivering another speech in the Senate yesterday in which he referred to "their criminal behaviour" and insisting all his comments were based on "irrefutable facts".

He announced last week that he would extend the deadline from June 22 to December 31 for foreigners to get land licences in compliance with the Immigration and Protection Amendment Act 2007.

Shadow Attorney General Mr. Moniz had asked for an extension and Mr. Barritt and Mr. Pettingill spoke in support of his request in the House of Assembly.

Yesterday, Sen. Burch said: "I note those who have claimed victory for the rethink and in some cases have demanded an apology for my assertions about their criminal behaviour.

"I also note that not one of them has challenged the accuracy of that statement or asked me to prove them.

"I will resist the temptation to name the firm — however, let me relate just one short story. I recently received correspondence from a prominent law firm informing me that they would no longer act as trustees for a certain trust.

"However, they named three partners in that firm who personally are named as the new trustees.

"Of particular note in this case is the directive the trustees recently received from the Chief Immigration Officer to sell a luxury property illegally acquired or face criminal prosecution.

"I do not make idle threats imagined or otherwise — I base all of my comments on irrefutable facts."

Bermuda Democratic Alliance MP Mr. Pettingill, a consultant and former partner at Wakefield Quin law firm, said last night that the Minister had made slanderous remarks about him.

"Right-thinking people in our community will feel that he needs to show some character respective of his position as a Minister and withdraw his comment.

"I unequivocally state again: it is just entirely untrue to categorise myself or my law firm in that way. It is scandalous."

United Bermuda Party MP Mr. Barritt, a consultant at Mello Jones and Martin and former partner at Appleby, Spurling & Kempe, said: "I have no idea what he is talking about with respect to me personally.

"I have not been approached by or had any discussions with anyone in his Ministry about anything I personally may have done or not done.

"I deeply resent his repeated suggestion that I'm involved in or I'm participating in what he now alleges to be criminal behaviour. I have always made it a point in my practise as a lawyer to counsel people against doing anything unlawful."

Mr. Moniz, of Moniz & George law firm, said last week: "It would not be useful to respond to any personal attacks made."

UBP leader Kim Swan said he was pleased the original remarks were struck from the record.

"It is increasingly clear to us that Government ministers are trying to distract public attention from the Government's poor performance by making sometimes outrageous, sometimes inflammatory statements, under the protection of parliamentary privilege.

"They are practising the politics of distraction at a time when Bermuda needs constructive thinking and real commitment to solving the issues of the day."

Sen. Burch said yesterday that a series of public information session about land licences for Bermudians and their foreign spouses would be held.

The first is on Thursday, July 22 at 5.30 p.m. at the Department of Labour and Training and those planning to attend must reserve a space by calling 297-1814.