Premier Ewart Brown's handling of the Guantánamo Bay affair will be subject of another debate after Opposition Senate Leader Michael Dunkley tabled a motion yesterday.

Sen. Dunkley's motion reads"That the Senate take note of the process by which four former inmates of Guantánamo Bay prison camp in Cuba were relocated to, and have been promised residency in, Bermuda."

The former United Bermuda Party leader told The Royal Gazette he believes Dr. Brown deliberately caused ramifications for Bermuda by breaking the constitution in failing to consult the Governor or the UK before bringing Huzaifa Parhat, Abdul Semet, Abdul Nasser and Jalal Jalaladin to the Island.

Some have speculated angering the Brits would fit well with the Premier's oft-stated goal of Independence, although Sen. Dunkley declined to comment on that possibility.

Sen. Dunkley said of the motion "Hopefully in the Senate we will have an open debate.

"The purpose is to continue the focus of the community on the impact on this move and how it reflects the level of governance in Bermuda.

"More importantly there are ramifications Dr. Brown has deliberately made by making the decision the way he did. We need to look at the accountability because people have to respect the system."

The Premier has said he believed it was an immigration issue and therefore he did not need to consult anyone other than Immigration Minister David Burch; Governor Sir Richard Gozney says it should have been the UK's decision.

Explaining why he thought Dr. Brown deliberately brought ramifications on the Island, Sen. Dunkley said "Premier Brown is a very smart person. Politically, he always seems to know what he wants to do. He has got an agenda. In this case, I can't believe his only excuse we're hearing is that he thought it was an immigration matter. He knows his job a lot better than that."

Dr. Brown's Government survived a motion of no confidence after a 14-hour House of Assembly debate that lasted until 5 a.m. on Saturday. All 21 PLP MPs, under a three line whip, voted against the motion, though disgruntled backbenchers said if it had been worded specifically against the Premier they would have backed it.

Many Government MPs attacked the Premier's failure to consult his Cabinet before the detainees arrived on the Island, with one of the most vociferous, Culture Minister Dale Butler, resigning immediately.

Dr. Brown's potential successor, Deputy Premier Paula Cox, said if members want change they should use the party machinery, such as calling a special delegates' conference.

Twelve of the PLP's 36 branches would need to want a change of leader to force such a conference.

Asked if branches had indicated they want a change, PLP spokesman Wentworth Christopher said: "I have seen no hint of any of that. We have to evaluate what's occurred and internalise it.

"Whether we make a significant decision, we would inform people. We have various outlets available to the party: caucus, the Central Committee, the Executive Committee, the branches.

"It would be unfair to expect that vast array of organs to have weighed up these matters in the past few days and come to conclusions. It's difficult to say what will occur, but I have seen nothing that causes me undue concern."

Regarding Ms Cox's comments, which some have interpreted as an invitation for members to set in motion the wheels for change, Mr. Christopher said "I think she was reminding the members of the party as to what organs they have that can be consulted and make determinations. We have a constitution. Anytime there's dissatisfaction a special delegates' conference can be called."