MP Mark Pettingill yesterday hit back at claims by a Government Minister that he was hiding criminal behaviour and said he was still waiting for an apology.

Bermuda Democratic Alliance Mr. Pettingill was referring to allegations made by Immigration Minister Sen. David Burch in the upper house two weeks ago.

On June 16, Sen. Burch claimed that Mr. Pettingill, along with United Bermuda Party MPs Trevor Moniz and John Barritt, neglected to mention "their own potential criminal behaviour" when they called for the land licensing deadline to be extended in a debate on a motion brought by Mr. Moniz.

While the comments were struck from the Senate record, Sen. Burch defended his statement the next week, again referring to their "criminal behaviour" and insisting his comments were based on "irrefutable facts".

In the House yesterday, Mr. Pettingill said: "What is said in one house echoes into another. Or should I say reeks.

"To be accused that I was making these comments on the basis that I was hiding criminal behaviour is outrageous.

"I still want these comments addressed. I am still waiting. In fact I think the entire country is still waiting."

Although Sen. Burch was in the chamber at the time, he is not allowed to address the House of Assembly.

Mr. Pettingill's comments came during a debate on an amendment to the Immigration and Protection Act, which was passed in 2007 to make it illegal for a non-Bermudian to gain property in Bermuda through a Bermudian "front".

Non-Bermudians had until June 22 of this year to purchase a land licence if they had given financial help to a Bermudian to enable them to buy a property.

Those who were not compliant face up to five years in prison and/or $1 million in fines.

Those affected included mixed-status couples, who since the Act passed have been unable to purchase more than one property.

The amendment, put forward by Junior Minister of Home Affairs Walter Roban, pushed back the deadline until December 31 this year.

"This will allow time for the processing of applicants who have already submitted for their licences," he said. "These people also benefit as the period to submit has extended.

"The plea of the Minister responsible is to remind all those affected by this to be in compliance with the law."

Mr. Moniz said he supported the amendments, and said he hoped the controversial legislature would be debated again before the new deadline.

"It is a very complex piece of legislation," he said. "We thought in 2007 that it had gone further than it needed to go.

"I think that we should review the legislation so it is not so punitive. When this was first put forward we were in the middle of a housing bubble. Prices were through the roof. Now, I understand that prices have fallen to the level they were in 2004."

Mr. Pettingill also voiced his support for the amendment, which he said was similar to the motion put forward by Mr. Moniz that sparked Sen. Burch's original comments towards them.

The amendment passed.