Progressive Labour Party MPs rallied behind their leader last night as parliamentarians debated the Throne Speech.

While praising the initiatives outlined by David Burt, the Premier, in the Throne Speech delivered last week, government MPs also pointed to the failure of the One Bermuda Alliance to connect with the people they were elected to represent.

Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, rounded on Opposition leader Patricia Gordon-Pamplin’s reply to the Throne Speech, branding it “rubbish”.

He said the One Bermuda Alliance’s response that outlined the progress the party had made in education was “erroneous and incorrect”.

“If the previous government had taken the time to support education I would not have to listen to this rubbish,” Mr Rabain said. Mr Rabain condemned the former government for failing to make the progress it claimed it its response with installing wi-fi in all public schools.

He added: “There is no internet policy within our schools. You can not put unfettered access to wi-fi without a policy in place; that is what we are working with. They continue to present erroneous statements and that is why they are sitting on that side.”

Walton Brown, the Minister of Home Affairs, said that the previous government had failed to consult during their time in power.

This, he said, led to a “series of upheavals” which led to a “crisis of confidence” that produced the result of the General Election on July 18.

“The people felt marginalised under the OBA,” Mr Brown said. “They weren’t disappointed, they were outraged.”

PLP backbencher Wayne Furbert commended the Premier for a “stimulating” and “invigorating” Throne Speech.

“You have never heard so much clapping coming from those who were in attendance,” he said of the event on the Cabinet grounds.

Pointing to the Opposition’s response to the Throne Speech, Mr Furbert said he would not stand for lecturing from the former government.

“We should not even be listening to what they say,” he said. “I don’t know if they realise that on July 18 they were fired.”

Mr Furbert said the Throne Speech prioritised what the people had asked the party to do.

“This Throne Speech prioritised issues that will grow international business, inspire our children, protect and respect our seniors, restore confidence to our public education, and ensure Bermuda is best placed to meet the challenges of the modern information age.”

PLP MPs Rolfe Commissiong and Michael Scott said that the Throne Speech contained a lot to be commended.

Mr Commissiong said that the challenges facing Government make those facing the previous PLP administration in 1998 “seem like a tea party”.

He pointed to an ageing population, income inequality, and the shrinking of the middle class as issues the Government would have to address.

Meanwhile Mr Scott said the latest Throne Speech represented a “reformation” adding that it would create the “best platform for accountability in our country”.