Michael Dunkley has said he was in phone contact with the Commissioner of Police during the protests of December 2.

Speaking in the House of Assembly, the Premier said that he had six separate phone conversations with the Commissioner on the day of protests against the proposed airport redevelopment project.

That protest culminated with a clash between police and protesters in which officers controversially used pepper spray on demonstrators.

Inquiries into the incident are under way, including one being conducted at the request of the Governor by a senior police officer from the United Kingdom. However, the Progressive Labour Party has called for an independent investigation.

Responding to parliamentary questions by David Burt, the Leader of the Opposition, the Premier said the first phone conversation with the Commissioner on December 2 took place at 8.29am, with subsequent calls at 10.15am, 11.06am, 11.45am, 1.12pm and 5.55pm.

He said the subject of the first five phone conversations was about getting MPs into the House of Assembly.

Asked if there were discussions about the use of riot police during the conversations, he said: “Police operations are in the remit of the Commissioner and that’s where it stands.”

He told the House he did not have conversations with anyone else within the Bermuda Police Service that day.

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