Leader of the Opposition Marc Bean has been summoned to court this month to face two charges of using offensive words in a case that relates to a heated exchange last year with Toni Daniels, the former One Bermuda Alliance senator.

Mr Bean, who was served with his court papers yesterday, is facing a third charge that cannot be reported because of legal reasons.

However, he is alleged to have had words with Ms Daniels at a polling station last November before the Sandys South by-election that ultimately returned Jamahl Simmons to Parliament.

Mr Bean is alleged to have called Ms Daniels “a ten cent political whore who is shared by best friends” during the exchange at a polling station last year. He is due to appear in court to make his plea on May 28.

The Progressive Labour Party leader became the focus of attention in the House of Assembly when Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, then the Minister of Public Works, read out a text message allegedly sent by Mr Bean to his party colleagues telling them what he had said.

Mr Bean went on to say in the House: “I will say this — to the men of the OBA, you know exactly what I’m talking about. That behaviour is a cancer and it’s unbecoming of womanhood and it’s being cultivated by the men in the OBA.”

In the same month at the reconvening of Parliament, the OBA staged a mass walkout during the start of the Opposition leader’s Reply to the Throne Speech.

After the walkout, the OBA released a statement accusing Mr Bean of “vile comments” during the November 6 encounter with Ms Daniels.

The statement, attributed to chairwoman Lynne Woolridge, said the OBA opted to quit the floor of the House to show that “such behaviour cannot go unchallenged”.

She added: “The decision to exit the Chambers during the Reply to the Throne Speech is not one that was made lightly and we call on the Opposition to take action to address the situation.

“Their continued silence, otherwise, can only be seen as condoning behaviour that shows categorical disrespect for women.”

Mr Bean declined to comment when contacted by The Royal Gazette.

• It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding court cases. This is to prevent any statements being published that may jeopardise the outcome of that case.