Tension ensued in the Upper House today after an independent senator said she was “frustrated” about carrying our her parliamentary duties.

Tawana Tannock also said she believed the independent senators were being “obstructed”.

Her comments related to the passage of the Pension (Increase) Amendment Act 2026 by the Senate, which will increase the rate of public servants’ pensions by 10 per cent from April 1 to March 31, 2027.

Crystal Caesar, the Minister of Education and mover of the Bill, said civil servants’ benefits had been frozen since 2014.

She added: “Retirees have seen their costs go up, they have served Bermuda, they have done their part and they have waited a long time for this increase.”

She said it followed consultation, including with the Public Servants Superannuation Board.

However, when the legislation moved to its third reading, Ms Tannock and John Wight — an independent senator and Vice-President of the Senate — objected to its passage.

Ms Tannock attempted to obtain clarity related to previous queries on the Bill but Ms Caesar responded that senators had already had their opportunity to ask questions.

Joan Dillas-Wright, the Senate president, highlighted that at the conclusion of the debate, the mover of the legislation made the final remarks and “the minister has the right to speak last”.

Ms Tannock had questioned the Bill’s wording as well as what would transpire after March 31, 2027, asking whether “this 10 per cent would no longer be available”.

Mr Wight told the Senate that legislators were “potentially positively impacted” by approving their own increases in pensions.

He questioned the rise in deficit for the Government Funded Public Services Superannuation Fund and the Members of the Legislature Fund as a result of the increase.

Mr Wight asked how many people stood to benefit from the two plans — figures Ms Caesar said she could not answer offhand.

The legislation went to a vote, with government and One Bermuda Alliance senators in support while Mr Wight and Ms Tannock voted it down over the lack of answers to their questions.

Kim Wilkerson, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, said the two independent senators were objecting to the Bill’s passage.

Later in the sitting, during the motion to adjourn, Ms Tannock said the passage of the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968 established the role of independent senators.

She said: “The role of an independent senator is to act as an independent observer, to be objective, to provide scrutiny and also to hold the Government and the Opposition to account.

“I’m sorry I am so frustrated … and I am frustrated because when we tried to discuss this Bill earlier today … it was a point made that it was the independent senators that were objecting.”

Ms Caesar interjected, reminding Ms Dillas-Wright of the standing orders prohibiting senators to speak on legislation after its passage.

Ms Dillas-Wright agreed, telling Ms Tannock that she could not speak of legislation already presented.

Ms Tannock then said: “I’m speaking on the role of the independent senator and my frustration that I feel that we are being obstructed in performing this role properly and to the ability that I think that the Bermudian public would allow us to do so.

“I am not speaking on this Bill because this is not a one-Bill subject.”

Ms Caesar objected and said: “While I understand my colleague’s frustrations, I believe that it would be remiss of me if I did not mention that to put in the public arena, that this particular House is somehow disallowing and somehow … frustrating one’s ability to execute their abilities.

“I believe that we need to be responsible in ensuring that we apprise ourselves and acquaint ourselves of the rules.

“One cannot get frustrated if they are using the rules as appropriate.

“Standing orders allow that you cannot impugn improper motive to other senators.”

Ms Caesar accused Ms Tannock of “inadvertently” impugning improper motive, a claim the independent senator vehemently objected to before Lindsay Simmons, a government senator, raised an objection.

Ms Tannock said she felt the government senators were blocking her from speaking during the motion to adjourn.

She said: “Madam president, it is at a point now where these interruptions feel tantamount to harassment.

“I don’t feel safe to be able to continue to say what I have to say in this climate.”

Ms Tannock later told The Royal Gazette that her frustration centred on a lack of answers to questions asked on behalf of the populace.

“It’s the unwillingness to answer the questions,” she added.

Mr Wight told the Senate: “I just want to give my full support behind the comments raised by my fellow independent senator.

“I think the role of the independent senator for the community is a very important one and I share my colleague’s frustration at the moment with our inability to debate.”

Ms Dillas-Wright suggested that the Upper House hold a meeting “if there is angst or whatever about any role”.

She reminded colleagues that she too served as an independent senator, a post held for almost 19 years.

She said: “I am taking these comments to heart and I think that I would like to know that we appointed to these chambers to function.”