At about the stroke of midnight yesterday, Government MP Terry Lister stood during the House of Assembly's Motion to Adjourn to rail the Opposition for what he described as an 'era of intimidation'.

The Progressive Labour Party has been similarly characterised for intimidating rhetoric following the comments of Minister Derrick Burgess concerning expatriate workers.

The Labour and Immigration Minister suggested that non-Bermudians should stay out of politics.

Mr. Lister said of last week's debate: "I heard a Member from the other side on the Motion to Adjourn say he was upset about words coming out of the mouth of my colleague Minister Derrick Burgess and this era of intimidation. And I said, oh my goodness, I didn't just hear that.

"There's a sector of this community called the black community that lived under intimidation for hundreds of years. People lost their mortgages, people were afraid to step out into jobs, people were intimidated left, right and centre.

"When elections came around it was commonplace for the boss to call the staff around and say: 'If the Government changes, I can't guarantee your job'."

Mr. Lister also suggested black workers were grossly underpaid, which forced parents to take on multiple jobs instead of spending that time raising their children.

He said: "And what happens? The chickens come home to roost in 2007 when we stand here and debate education and have to talk about a graduation rate of 48 percent that comes because of year after year after year of family destruction."

From his seat Opposition MP Trevor Moniz yelled across the floor: "Where's your accountability?"

His party colleague Maxwell Burgess said: "The poor of this country voted in the PLP because they thought the PLP understood their plight."

Mr. Burgess suggested the PLP had let down that demographic since taking power.

Mr. Lister pointed to the Government housing initiatives, the new Ministry of Social Rehabilitation, and the ongoing fight on drugs as social programmes which are helping the underprivileged.