Bermuda's Senate is no place for slavery rhetoric and threatening language, Senator Rev. Leonard Santucci told The Royal Gazette this week after an unusually nasty session of the Upper House.

And Rev. Santucci called for an apology from Government Senate Leader Lt. Col. David Burch for a statement he made to Rev. Santucci and Senator Kim Swan during the melee.

Insults flew about the round Senate table following motion to adjourn on Wednesday and at one point, Sen. Burch said to the two, black UBP Senators: "The problem with you two is that you have been learning from the slave master".

Rev. Santucci told The Royal Gazette in his opinion the comment was out of order and Sen. Burch should apologise to the Senate and all of Bermuda.

"We are not slaves. We have never been slaves. This is not slavery. We are not living under a system of slavery," he said.

"For the Government Senate Leader to say such as thing is beyond reproach and offends all right-minded thinking people."

Rev. Santucci said using such language in Government undoes the entire country's work toward racial tolerance and acceptance. "If (the comment) is condoned by the Premier, in my opinion, then it is even more offensive," he said.

"In my opinion, he owes Senator Swan and myself an apology and more importantly he owes the people of the country and apology. I feel he's creating a greater divide in community race relations."

He said comments like the one made by Sen. Burch counteract the work of CURE. "I would never, I would never reduce myself to that level of plantation-type mentality," he added. Despite the rancour-filled session, freshman Senator Rev. Santucci said he had no intention of backing down in debates.

"I don't intend to stop," he said. "I am going to challenge them on their policies and challenge them on what they are doing."

Attempts to contact Sen. Lt. Col. Burch last night for comment were unsuccessful.