An urgent motion to launch a joint select committee to tackle the issue of immigration was rejected following a prolonged debate in the House of Assembly last night.

The motion was launched by Progressive Labour Party MP Walton Brown before the Bermuda Government could table its Pathways to Status legislation, with the MP warning of “growing and sustained unrest”.

Voting along party lines, 14 PLP members voted for the motion while 18 OBA members voted against it.

A succession of Opposition MPs told the House of Assembly that the island stood on the brink of national turmoil over the Government’s immigration policies, brought to a head by the Pathways to Status initiative.

Mr Brown’s motion calling for a joint select committee to examine comprehensive immigration reform was approved by Randy Horton, the Speaker of the House, who ruled that it was “a point of urgency” that had to be dealt with.

It was an occasionally rancorous debate, with Opposition MP Rolfe Commissiong asked to leave for talking while another speaker was on his feet.

Trevor Moniz, the Attorney-General, voiced scepticism as to whether it was genuinely urgent, but Mr Horton considered it was after “significant and full consideration in relation to what’s happening on our island right now”.

Mr Brown’s motion said the committee’s report would be debated before any Bill on the subject went before MPs, and the committee would submit its report to Parliament within six months.

Opening the debate, Mr Brown said the country was on a precipice, with its stability at stake, calling the issue “fundamentally divisive”, and describing his motion as an opportunity for the House to demonstrate leadership on a matter “that is tearing this country apart”.

He accused the OBA of going against its previous positions, adding: “There is a danger of unilateralism, of one side doing what it wants without regard for opposing or competing viewpoints.”

Mr Brown said it would be unhealthy, saying the PLP would undo such legislation if it regained government, and that the issue merited “serious, mature” discussion in a bilateral fashion.

He said a committee could come up with firm criteria and a set procedure for awarding status and permanent residency, reminding the Government that it would control a bipartisan committee.

The Government, he said, was refusing to discuss the issue, noting that from the tenor of online comments, the country appeared to be “at war” with itself.

“Any legislation has to be mindful of what is a right and what is a privilege — what are the rights of Bermudians and the rights of those who are here on work permits,” Mr Brown continued, arguing that the issue was “delicate and sensitive”.

“In the absence of bipartisanship, this country is going to go through a period of turmoil and unease — it is not good for anyone.”

Mr Moniz again rose to query the need for the motion, asking: “Who’s out there urging people to the brink but the honourable member himself?”

The Attorney-General said there had never been a PLP Premier who governed with a bipartisan approach, pointing out that Mr Brown was not the Shadow Minister for Home Affairs.

“The unrest in our society seems to be emanating from you,” Mr Moniz said, calling the motion “obstructionist” and pointing out that a public meeting on the immigration measures had been shouted down by protesters.

Walter Roban, the Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, accused the Government of disregarding its promise from the last Throne Speech for “public consultation preceding amendments” to immigration.

He was told by the Speaker to “withdraw that nonsense” after likening the OBA to a disease-carrying cockroach, with Mr Horton saying the debate was too important for unparliamentary language.

Shadow Minister of Finance David Burt said that no member of the OBA had defended the lack of consultation on the bill, saying that their rhetoric needs to be based on fact.

“The only thing that giving them permanent resident status does is remove them from work permit control,” he said.

“That is all you are doing right now.”

He said that if the OBA truly care about the economy, they would vote for presenting a unified front though bipartisan immigration reform.

“If not, it’s not about economy, it’s not about jobs, it’s not about hungry people. It’s about votes,” he said.

Finance minister Bob Richards responded that actions speak louder than words, saying that if the PLP wanted a bipartisan approach they would have given prior notice to the motion being debated, saying the OBA were hit with an “attempted ambush”.

He said: “You cannot have it both ways, say you’re coming here to take us back from the brink when you put us there in the first place.”

Mr Bean described the OBA as “morally bankrupt” and called on the “silent back bench” to vote in favour of the joint select committee. “If they proceed to vote down the joint select committee, then they will have 48 hours to withdraw the bill,” Mr Bean said.

“That is not a threat, it is what I suspect will happen.

“After that point the OBA will have involuntarily submitted themselves to the will of the people.

“All hell will break loose. This is the ultimate and final appeal.”

Finally, Michael Dunkley, the Premier, weighed in to say: “We believe in the approach we are taking and we won’t stop listening to the people even if the Opposition wants to threaten action at all times.

“The people of Bermuda — although some may be frustrated, they understand. President J. F. Kennedy challenges: ‘We cannot negotiate with people who say what is ours is ours and what is yours is negotiable’.”