Government of riding roughshod over the rules to "ram'' through hotel concessions for the Marriott Castle Harbour development.

But Tourism Minister David Allen dismissed the walk-out as "the height of irresponsibility'' and a "red herring''.

United Bermuda Party MPs said it was normal practice for items to be discussed two weeks after they are tabled.

Shadow Legislative Affairs Minister John Barritt said the rules prohibit a bill being read until at least 48 hours after it is printed. The Opposition only received the concession order notice for the Castle Harbour development on Wednesday afternoon.

UBP MPs walked out at 11 a.m. after Speaker Stanley Lowe allowed Government to suspend the rules of the House to push through the multi-million dollar tax breaks - the first under the recently passed Hotel Concessions Act 2000.

At a press conference afterwards, Mr. Barritt said: "While dictatorship may well be allowed to rule in the Progressive Labour Party caucus, we will not stand by and allow dictatorship to affect parliament and the conduct of the people's business.

"It is not just a lack of respect for the Opposition and the role of the Opposition and parliament to play in examining bills.

"The deeper concern is the disrespect shown for critical thought in proceeding this way. If they do it once they will do it again.

"We were given no indication that they needed to rush it through. Government Whip Ottiwell Simmons indicated it would be debated next week and it was this morning during discussions with the Premier that it was indicated that not only would it be today -- it not even being on the order paper -- but they would be asking leave to have it the first item of business.

"We did not wish to be involved in setting a precedent whereby a bill of this importance is introduced and taken up the same day.'' The UBP MPs returned to the House after the concessions were voted through.

Mr. Allen said it was essential the concessions were rushed through before parliament rises.

He said the multi-million concessions to Rosewood Hotels, who will redevelop the Castle Harbour site, had to go through yesterday to meet a tight financing schedule hanging over investors in the United States, otherwise the deal would collapse.

For further coverage of yesterday's debates see Page 4 Opposition MPs storm out in protest The concession has to be approved by Senate on Monday and then signed by Governor Thorold Masefield before investors will sign financing agreements.

Mr. Allen said Government had outlined broad details of concessions at a press conference with Rosewood in January, and that the nature of the concessions had been exhaustively debated when the bill passed last month.

He told the remaining Government MPs: "For close to eight months the country has been aware of exactly what this concessions order is going to entail and this is formalising the procedures at this time.

"Government has bent over backwards to accommodate the Opposition because we circulated a draft version of this two weeks ago.

"Contrary to what is being said on the Opposition benches, only minor adjustments were made to this.

"The order and the act that was passed has the full support of the industry.

Bermuda Hotel Association, to which (Shadow Tourism Minister) David Dodwell is a member, endorses this.

"I am very disappointed that the Opposition in a fit of pique did this after the steps we have taken to include them.

"The key why we did this is because investors in the US and in Bermuda are ready to proceed, but it is a very tight timeline. As Shakespeare said `There is many a slip betwixt cup and lip'.

"It is well known the House will be rising shortly and it was essential the order was in place so the financial agreements could be signed so we can proceed this year.

"The order comes into effect when it is published in the Official Gazette and we anticipate that being very soon. The financial agreements won't be signed until this is signed by the Governor that the concessions are in place. Then they'll sign the agreement.'' He said afterwards: "This whole thing will go south if we don't get this deal done this month. Bermuda's good name, our good offices and credibility were at stake.''' He added: "It is not a rule that it has to wait two weeks, it is a convention.'' At the press conference afterwards, Mr. Dodwell said: "As Tourism minister I would never ever have considered bringing in a bill of this importance with less than 48 hours ability to look at it.

"This morning I was getting a copy of the bill as the Minister of Tourism was getting up to speak. This is an abuse of the Opposition and of the people's right to know.

"These concessions were announced in January. It has taken us seven months to get here and one more week would have allowed us to study it. We have not been given the opportunity to give it the due diligence it deserves.'' Opposition leader Pamela Gordon said: "We are giving away millions of dollars and there are no answers as to who is going to pay and we feel it will be the tax-payer.

"It was not a delaying tactic or being irresponsible but we have a responsibility to ensure the people's business in a faithful and thoughtful way.

"The Government talks about accountability and sunshine of public scrutiny and then they just ram things through and that can't be an acceptable practice for the future of this country.''