Premier Craig Cannonier called for an end of “political rancour” as the Government works to aide the Island’s economic recovery.

However Opposition Leader Marc Bean said it was the Government who had initiated the recent controversy by secretly recording a private conversation and later bringing it up in the House of Assembly.

In a statement released yesterday, the Premier dismissed recent controversies as the “politics of division and personal destruction”, saying the focus should be on the work that still must be done.

“As your government, my colleagues and I are engaged in extremely challenging work — to turn around an economy that has not been working for thousands of Bermudians,” Mr Cannonier said. “This is the job we were elected to do and we take it very seriously.

“Bermuda’s economy is in critical condition while we are trying to rebuild the economy and bolster consumer and investor confidence.

“What has transpired over the past three days is nothing but the politics of division and personal destruction.

“It has nothing to do with getting people back on their feet and nothing to do with national priorities. It is my job to elevate us from this type of political rancour.

“In my opinion, the politics over the past few days is so extreme and so indifferent to what’s important for the Island today that it threatens the recovery of Bermuda; threatens to undo investor confidence that we’ve been trying to build, and the jobs that come with it.”

“As Premier, I have to fight these efforts to destroy not just the work of the duly elected Government of Bermuda, but the hopes and dreams that all Bermudians have placed in us to get the Island back on its feet.”

He said the Government has accomplished much since it’s election in late 2012 in its efforts to move Bermuda in the right direction.

“We’ve dramatically reduced the crime rate and we’ve been successful in laying the groundwork to restore confidence in the Island as a place to do business.

“We will continue to do our work on behalf of the people of Bermuda — because that’s what is important.”

Appearing on ZBM’s Let’s Talk last night, Mr Bean responded to the statement, saying: “It still does not address the claims that were made in the House of Assembly and were made outside of the House of Assembly by MP David Burt on Larry Scott’s talk show last night (Sunday), and I repeat those claims tonight. It still does not answer those questions.

“In terms of ‘politics of personal destruction’, when I sought to go and help Nandi Davis Outerbridge because she was going through a personal difficulty, I didn’t come in wired into the discussion.

“I didn’t resist having the meeting and then 45 minutes later come in back and say let’s have the meeting and I find out through their people it was recorded.

“I didn’t bring up this tape. It was the Premier that brought it up after I gave my personal explanation. ‘Wait till this tape comes out’.

“And that’s why I actually spoke to it in the House of Assembly. Bring the tape. Play it, because I know what I said to Ms Outerbridge.”