Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess last night told Michael Dunkley: "I'll deal with you outside," after the Deputy Opposition Leader called for his resignation in the House of Assembly.

Mr. Burgess made the remark from his seat after Mr. Dunkley suggested he could be guilty of intimidation under the Island's Criminal Code because of his suggestion that ex-pats should not involve themselves in Bermuda's politics.

Mr. Dunkley ? citing section 151 of the code which states that anyone found guilty of interfering with the free exercise of a person's political right can be jailed ? said Mr. Burgess had brought the Government into disrepute.

The Minister ? who also told the House of Assembly last Friday that guest workers should expect to be dismissed if they spoke out against the company they worked for ? did not get to his feet to respond officially.

But he called across to the UBP politician: "You should have been locked up." When the Speaker of the House, Stanley Lowe, asked him to withdraw that comment, he said to Mr. Dunkley: "I'll take it back and I'll deal with you outside."

Mr. Burgess would not elaborate on the remark when contacted later by . He claimed this newspaper was not allowed to report "unofficial" comments made between MPs in the House but would not say which law prohibited it.

"You use it at your peril," he warned. "You think we are inferior. You can't write what you want and I can't write what I want. You can't write the interpolation that goes across the floor."

Asked why not, he replied: "Because you can't. I'm telling you what you can't use." He added. "If I wanted for you and the public to know I would have got up. When we are talking to each other across the floor of the House, you can't use that. It's not official. If you want to use it, go right ahead. Go and print it and we'll deal with that."

Mr. Dunkley said he considered the comment a threat but added: "I'm not going to be intimidated by threats. What's wrong is wrong. It doesn't concern me.

"My concern is that if people are not acting appropriately for the position they need to know what's right and deal with it. He has a very important position in Government and you can't be making comments like that."

Earlier, Mr. Dunkley, speaking during the motion to adjourn in the House, said intimidation was a serious concern in a small society such as Bermuda where people were afraid to speak out.

He told members he was disturbed by recent comments made by Mr. Burgess and Government backbencher George Scott.

Mr. Scott, chief organiser of Bermuda Industrial Union, has admitted telling a Canadian construction worker, Curtis Macleod, who had his work permit revoked after rowing with the MP: "You do not know who I am, but I will see you off this Island."

Mr. Macleod is appealing the decision by Cabinet and Mr. Burgess to revoke his permit and Mr. Dunkley said he would not discuss that case as it could be sub judice.

But he said Mr. Burgess' remarks in defence of his party colleague were not appropriate for a minister and could lead to an ex-pat bringing a case against him under the Criminal Code.

Mr. Burgess expressed unhappiness about the internet blog Limey in Bermuda, which has been critical of Government. Mr. Dunkley said last night that its creator Phil Wells, an Englishman married to a Bermudian, had every right to give his opinions.

"Why shouldn't he be allowed to speak out?" he said. "Why shouldn't we all be allowed to speak out as long as we do it in an appropriate manner?"

He added that Mr. Burgess should do the "appropriate thing" and resign as Minister.