Bermuda Industrial Union President Derrick Burgess has hit out at fellow union members for criticising him for a conflict of interest in also being an MP.

Mr. Burgess said those who have criticised him don't understand politics ? but Deputy Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley has dismissed this as a defence that does not hold water.

According to a report in the BIU newsletter, the Workers Voice, Mr. Burgess spoke on the topic during a BIU General Membership Meeting earlier this month.

"He took the opportunity to admonish those union members who criticise him and other members of the BIU executive for their role as Parliamentarians, stating that it was a conflict of interest," said the article.

Mr. Burgess is quoted as saying: "When (former UBP leaders) Sir Henry Tucker and Sir David Gibbons were Members of Parliament, we did not hear anyone saying there was a conflict of interest.

"They represented their constituents who were those people who were involved in business who were mainly members of the United Bermuda Party."

Mr. Burgess added that he and UBP MP George Scott are representing their constituents who in this case are "the workers of Bermuda" and that labour is the "complete opposite" to business.

"Those who say it's a conflict don't understand politics. The trade union movement was the beginning for most labour parties. The labour party in England started from the trade union movement.

"Labour parties in the Caribbean had their beginnings in the trade union movement. It's not a conflict, it's common sense," said Mr. Burgess.

When asked to expand upon these comments, he declined to do so, telling that the matter was "old news".

However, the UBP's Michael Dunkley said that the issue is an ongoing one.

"I have no problem with union representation, it's a job that's very valuable for the union members but as the president of the union and a sitting member of Parliament who has a constituency, I cannot see how he can make the correct decision to benefit both.

"While he has been in parliament there has been conflict between him and his Government and in the same newsletter he mentions concerns about some matters that are with the Labour Department," he said.

"I think that his answer to the criticism just does not hold up and just shows that he is facing criticism on both fronts."