Two MPs who almost came to blows in the House of Assembly have expressed remorse for their actions.

Zane DeSilva apologised to the Speaker and fellow MPs for the fracas last week, which he blamed on Opposition MP Pat Gordon-Pamplin's "aggressive verbal assault" and his own emotional state following weeks of canvassing for the Southampton West Central by-election.

Fellow MPs had to coax the pair to walk away from a fight after an angry row erupted in last Friday's Parliamentary session. The two began shouting at one another in the Lower Chamber moments after the Speaker closed proceedings, with both clearly furious at comments the other had made during the Motion to Adjourn debate.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin told the House that in the run-up to the by-election, ZBM TV news asked her to confirm a story that Mr. DeSilva was allegedly "offering jobs in exchange for votes" for PLP candidate Marc Bean.

Mr. DeSilva described her comment as "low indeed" and said he earned his money honestly, as did his wife.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin, interpreting this as a reference to her estranged husband Dennis, who is facing attempted drug smuggling charges in the US, then approached him pointing her finger.

Mr. DeSilva told the House last night: "Mrs. Patricia Gordon-Pamplin crossed the floor and approached me in a very aggressive manner as she was obviously angered following our exchange of words.

"I was also angered, and it was my reaction, shall I say my over-reaction, to this aggressive verbal assault which has led me to speak today."

The PLP MP said he had been canvassing hard for five weeks with Senator Marc Bean for the Southampton seat.

"To say my emotions were running high was an understatement, and my campaigning for the Southampton by-election had some influence," said Mr. DeSilva.

"Allow me to apologise to you and the members of this honourable House for the heated and unnecessary exchange that took place between myself and the honourable Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin. I can assure you I am disappointed by my own actions and my loss of self-control, because in normal circumstances I have the ability to rise above litigious comments."

Mr. DeSilva said: "If I have offended anyone in this honourable House or the people of Bermuda I most humbly apologise."

Shadow Works and Engineering Minister Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin also addressed the House. She said: "I have spoken individually to those people who I thought it was appropriate to express my regrets for my actions last week."

She said she had also thanked "those people who stepped in to bring a degree of calm".

"It only leaves me to express my regret to you, Mr. Speaker and to the honourable members of the House."

Later that evening however, former UBP MP and now Independent, Wayne Furbert, also accused Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin of implying he had improper motives.

Mr. Furbert voted on the side of Government last night to reject a Motion to delay the progress of the Bermuda Bar Amendment Act 2008.

"My former colleagues were upset with me for voting a certain way but I am now Independent and can vote any way I want," said Mr. Furbert.

"But I take exception to Patricia Gordon-Pamplin who said I was paid out by the PLP to vote a certain way. I think this individual member is getting nastier and nastier in this House."

He added: "I think it is wrong this Member continues to speak in the House the way she is doing. I will not allow this Member to denigrate me in this House.

"That honourable Member needs some control."

Donte Hunt, Shadow Housing and Family Development Minister, said in the Motion to Adjourn: "In the last two weeks we've had cases in which respect has gone out of the door. We've had cases highlighted in the newspaper which people in the community deplore.

"We are elected here to rise above emotion at times. I'd like for us to leave this House and come back in the New Year afresh and renewed.

"Let's all of us sit down and bring this House to the level of calling it is supposed to be."