Union leader Chris Furbert said he would be prepared to go to jail as he rallied protesters in a fourth day of demonstrations at the House of Assembly yesterday.

Mr Furbert, the president of the Bermuda Industrial Union, urged campaigners not to relent in their fight against the controversial Pathways to Status Bill before leading them on two marches across Hamilton throughout the day.

Chief Justice Ian Kawaley has warned protesters are probably breaking the law with their industrial action, but Mr Furbert insisted they had “been law-abiding citizens” and urged anyone with weapons, alcohol or drugs to leave.

“If they want to take me to jail, let them take me to jail,” he told the crowd. “If they want to handcuff my mouth like that, I may as well put down this mike.

“It has to be about us and how we get the result for our children and our children’s children.

“When I think about this country and where we are, I get a bit emotional. You know why? Because it hurts.”

Openly weeping, he criticised budget cuts for education and seniors and, referring to his 15-year-old daughter, said: “She wants to be involved because she understand what it’s all about.”

Tensions remained extremely high yesterday but, following afternoon meetings involving politicians, campaigners and business leaders, the Reverend Nicholas Tweed of the People’s Campaign suggested that agreement could be in sight.

“We made it clear that fundamentally to move forward the Bill would have to be withdrawn,” Mr Tweed said.

“I believe there is a potential resolution and way forward. Hopefully a decision will be made in the best interests of all Bermudians. We are hopeful it will be good news.”

Mr Furbert said he expects a response from the Bermuda Government will come before the end of tomorrow.

About 50 demonstrators were outside Sessions House as early as 7am, with the crowd swelling to around 1,000 by 9am. Ferries, buses and trash collection services were down once again.

Early in the day, Mr Furbert said the BIU and People’s Campaign had rejected the concessions put forward by Michael Dunkley, the Premier, late on Tuesday. Later in the morning, protesters marched through Hamilton, chanting “justice” and singing “We Shall Not Be Moved”, before returning to the House, where numbers grew to about 1,500.

During the early afternoon, Mr Dunkley met with a series of business leaders in Cabinet, including John Wight, president of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, and Richard Winchell, executive director of the Association of Bermuda International Companies, as well as Sir John Swan, the former Premier.

A second march late in the afternoon caused police to shut off major roads including Church Street at rush hour, before campaigners ended their day in Union Square for the fourth time.

How the day unfolded

9am: Despite occasional showers, hundreds of demonstrators gather outside the House of Assembly for a fourth day. While numbers are not as great as Monday, when more than 1,000 people marched on the House, crowds are still surrounded all entrances to the building.

9.20am: Chris Furbert, president of the Bermuda Industrial Union, and the Reverend Nicholas Tweed, of the People’s Campaign, arrive at the House with a crowd of supporters.

9.40am: Mr Furbert tells protesters: “I received a letter yesterday evening. They are testing us. This issue is bigger than a furlough day, and this is directed to all employers, not just Government. They are trying to play our children against their children, saying they want to make sure there is a pathway to status that everyone would agree with.”

9.45am: Mr Tweed reads the letter. “It maintains that everything they do is aimed at providing and decrying job opportunities for Bermudians, including the America’s Cup.” Mention of the letter prompts raucous laughter from the crowd.

9.50am: BPSU president Jason Hayward takes the mike: “Mr Premier, we have listened to the contents of your letter. The people have heard it, digested it and rejected it Please do not send any further communication to this Hill unless you’re communicating that the bill has been withdrawn.”

9.55am: Mr Furbert says they must go to the table with a minimum of ten people. “We’re going down there not for the Premier, not for the OBA government, but for the people. It doesn’t cost the Government one dollar to hold this Bill for a while. If they want to take me to jail. Let them take me to jail. If they want to handcuff my mouth like that, I may as well put down this mike.” He tells the crowd that now was the time to demonstrate and asked anyone with weapons, alcohol or drugs in their possession to leave now. They applauds the efforts of the Bermuda Police Service. “We have been law abiding citizens and we want to keep it that way.”

Mr Furbert adds: “It has to be about us and how we get the result for our children and our children’s children. When I think about this country and where we are, I get a bit emotional. You know why? Because it hurts.” Mr Furbert is crying. He’s trying to tell the crowd about his love for his 15-year-old daughter.

10.15am: The crowd march north up Parliament Street, making their way to Court Street. They are now on Front Street, chanting “Justice”. They are led by the children in the group.

10.20am: Front Street is closed for traffic.

10.50am: The marchers tour the city before heading back to the House of Assembly.

10.55am: The crowd chant: “What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now,” and sing “We shall not be moved.”

11.20am: Ministry of Tourism Development and Transport confirm that there will be no bus or ferry services until further notice.

11.25am: Around 1,500 protesters arrive at the House. Brandishing flags and banners, they chant: “Reject the bill on the Hill.”

11.40am: Mr Furbert says they will be marching again this afternoon. The children will lead, followed by seniors and then the rest. “The Premier likes to say, ‘I’m listening’. But is he hearing?,” says Mr Furbert.

11.40am: He confirmed a meeting between himself, elected representatives and the Premier would take place at 1pm

11.45am: Mr Tweed tells the crowd: “When the people hurt, the island suffers. I’m not going to be drawn into an us and them. One community ought not be more valued than another. Despite the disparities in wealth, progress in this island was built on the backs of our ancestors. It is the blood of our ancestors that has drained into the soil of this island. We are deeply opposed to being taken advantage of and being pushed back anymore. We are committed to a process that will be to the benefit of everyone on this island.”

11.55am: Mr Furbert urges the crowd to stand their ground and not return to work. He says delaying was a “divide and conquer” tactic used by the Government.

12.15am: A bag for cash donations is walked around the House. The crowd seeks shelter from the rain.

1pm: The Premier and Mr Furbert meet at Cabinet.

1.50pm: The United States Consulate General in Hamilton urges its citizens to stay away from the demonstration areas.

“The demonstrations have been largely peaceful, but as general guidance, we urge citizens to avoid areas of demonstrations, and ask that they exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations,” the Consulate says in a statement.

2.00pm: The Ministry of Public Works confirms there will be no garbage collection today. Residents are encouraged to take their trash to the Tyne’s Bay public drop-off which will be open daily from 8am to 7pm for the rest of the week.

The Marsh Folly Depot, Government Quarry and Airport Disposal Site are also not operating today.

2.15pm: The doors to Cabinet remain firmly closed as Mr Dunkley meets with Mr Furbert and Mr Tweed. A few select people have gained access to the building over the past hour including senator Jeff Baron.

2.45pm: Representatives from the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Bermuda International Companies emerge from the Cabinet Building, but won’t comment on how discussions unfolded.

2.55pm: A general meeting of the West Indian Association of Bermuda has been called for this Saturday at the Manchester Unity Hall. The agenda will include discussing its position on Pathways to Status.

3pm: Sir John Swan, the former Premier, emerges from Cabinet to say: “We have had a long discussion about the matter but it is obviously confidential. I can say the discussions were cordial, productive and informative with the idea that we seek to resolve this as best we can. We have agreed to consult later with representatives and organisations.” Sir John says they will update further when they can.

3.10pm: The crowd move back to the House of Assembly grounds, where Mr Tweed addresses them to say: “We may have reached a point where a resolution is in sight.”

3.15pm: Mr Furbert addresses the crowd, saying they had met with Sir John this morning and spoke with him for the last two hours. “If we don’t talk, we won’t get a resolution,” he says. Mr Tweed says their meeting covered the whole range of issues. They demanded the Bill be withdrawn. “I believe there is potential for a resolution. I would respectfully say that the less detail I expose, the better it will be.”

3.20pm: Crystal Caesar of IRAG says: “We expect a cordial resolution to this cause.” Arnold Smith tells the crowd: “Brothers and sisters, it is not over yet. We are going to march at 4.30.”

3.25pm: Mr Tweed says discussions were extensive. Addressing the crowd he says: “We made it clear that fundamentally to move forward the bill would have to be withdrawn. I believe there is a potential resolution and way forward. Mr Furbert says that now they await a response from the Government and expects that that will come by Friday.

4.15pm: The rain has started pouring 15 minutes before the protesters are scheduled to begin their march.

4.40pm: Mr Furbert says 25 per cent of the money collected could go to hunger striker Enda Matthie “for the sacrifices she’s made”. Crowd agrees.

4.45pm: Protesters march down Church Street, chanting “Take it off the table.” The march heads onto Front Street, via King Street, led by the Gombey drummers.

5.30pm: The march heads up Bermudiana Road. Police clear Church Street as protesters approach, passing City Hall.

6pm: Marchers return to Union Square, where Mr Furbert tells the crowd: “See you tomorrow.”

• Additional reporting by Owain Johnston-Barnes, Sarah Lagan and Adam Zacharias

• For more images from yesterday, see the photo gallery at the bottom of our homepage

• For the Premier’s statement and the Opposition leader’s response, click on the PDF links under “Related Media”