Respect is a two-way process says union leader Ed. Ball Jr. who has attacked Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown for breaching protocol at the airport.

The row started when a police constable accused the minister of very poor manners and acting in an unprofessional way by seeking to enter the entry hall via the police station without the necessary pass to greet visitors.

Dr. Brown hit back at his accusers by saying some public officials displayed political bias by subtly disrespected members of the Progressive Labour Party Government.

Yesterday Bermuda Public Services Union General Secretary Edward Ball Jr. said: "If the Minister of Transportation, Dr. Ewart Brown wants Civil Servants to respect him, then he must also respect the roles of civil servants as respect is always earned.

"Although Dr. Brown is responsible for Bermuda's transportation matters, this does not mean he can allegedly breach international security policies of Immigration, Customs, and Police or compromise airport duty officers and immigration/customs officers to allegedly process his personal friends and any other visitors who are not entering Bermuda on official government business.

"Contrary to Dr. Brown's assertion that former Government Ministers have also breached Bermuda's immigration and customs security codes, there is no excuse for his alleged behaviour.

"Historically the protocol practised by any minister wishing to enter the arrivals hall at the airport was to write to the Commissioner of Police and the Collector of Customs requesting permission to enter on official government business.

"If Dr. Brown feels that a civil servant is being disrespectful to him in his official capacity as a minister, then I would urge him to follow the grievance procedure contained in the BPSU/Bermuda Government Collective Agreement."

Shadow Transport Minister Erwin Adderley said he had never abused security procedures during his brief time at the helm of the ministry before the election, while colleagues who had held the post previously said the same.

He said of the PLP's attitude: "It's this nonsense, the former Government did it so we can get away with it."

He said ministers had privileges to enter certain areas but were restricted from others.

"It's not just Bermuda rules, it's international rules established by the UK, it's up to people to provide the security that's necessary. Respect is not something you demand, it's something you earn."

He said if ministers thought they were above the law then the public would demand to follow suit.

And he said the Dr. Brown spat had echoes of when Renee Webb got into a public row with Police after being refused entry to VIP parking at the Rugby Classic in 2000.

She then accused Police of being corrupt, sparking the Police Officers Association to say they had been collectively slandered.

Last night Dr. Brown said Mr. Ball was entitled to his opinion "from a distance".

Dr. Brown added: "I don't need to be reminded as to what my responsibilities are. I have said what I have had to say and I will proceed with Government business."