With tensions surrounding immigration reform threatening to boil over, the Bermuda Government last night offered a series of concessions to its controversial Pathways to Status initiative.

The announcement came shortly before the House of Assembly session scheduled for today, which was due to feature a debate on the legislation opposed by hundreds of protesters, was adjourned until Friday by Speaker of the House Randy Horton.

Michael Dunkley, the Premier, announced he had contacted Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert to lay out the concessions.

They would include a three-month delay on implementation of the “15-year pathway” — allowing those who have lived in Bermuda for 15 years to apply for permanent residency — which he revealed had caused the most widespread concern.

In the meantime, a working group would be established “comprising representatives from various stakeholders”.

The group would offer recommendations on this matter as well as a living wage and training requirements for Bermudians, unscrupulous business tactics that undermine Bermudian labour and summer job opportunities for Bermudians via the international business sector.

However, Mr Dunkley underlined his desire to shore up children and family pathway issues “in short order”.

He said that there was general agreement on both sides of the debate that immigration reform legislation needs to address children who are born in Bermuda or arrived here at a young age, those who have remained on the island for 20-plus years and mixed-status families.

Mr Dunkley also highlighted the Government’s continued commitment to Pathways, as well as its belief that the Bill is in Bermuda’s best interest.

“Everything that we have done is aimed squarely at investing in our people and in job opportunities for Bermudians,” he said. He also downplayed suggestions that the OBA was hoping to bolster the island’s white populace in order to secure more votes.

“How new Bermudians may vote plays no part in our policymaking process,” Mr Dunkley said.

“Notwithstanding this, the Government would be committed to discussing questions pertaining to the timing of voting rights and implementation date of the 20-year status pathway.”

The Premier criticised protesters’ decision to physically block MPs from entering the House of Assembly on Monday by forming a human barricade, calling the move “simply unacceptable behaviour”.

“This government is always willing to listen,” he said.

“We have always said that we take no issue with people expressing their democratic right to voice their opinions and have their views heard.

“But bolting the doors of the House posed a danger to everyone inside the building and the disruption also prevented the courts from being able to go about their business, with several trials having to be moved.”

Mr Dunkley ended his correspondence on a conciliatory note.

Noting that the past few days had been “challenging” for the island, he added: “The discourse and the tensions regarding immigration reform have been distressing for many in Bermuda.

“The decisions we make as a government have always been taken with the best interests of Bermuda at heart. Yet, we recognise that if we are to achieve any progress, we must address this issue collaboratively, for the greater good of Bermuda and for our future generations.”

When contacted by The Royal Gazette, Mr Furbert declined to comment on the matter.

However, earlier in the day he had detailed his previous discussions with the OBA to the crowd of protesters at Sessions House.

“The Government (said) they would take everything else off the table, or put it on hold, and we can deal with the children part of it,” he said.

“We said no. The whole Bill has to be taken off the table.”

Last night, Opposition leader Marc Bean described the announcement that the House of Assembly would remain adjourned until Friday as most surprising and unusual.

“We can only hope that this is not a desperate attempt by the OBA to delay answering to the people of Bermuda,” he said. “As the official Opposition we have not committed nor rejected any new approach put forward by Minister Fahy and Minister Moniz.

“The position of the PLP remains the same, that the OBA withdraw this bill and take a bipartisan, comprehensive approach to immigration reform. After rejecting the offer to form a Joint Select Committee on this matter, the OBA have made it abundantly clear that they are not willing to compromise nor negotiate as honest brokers.”

He said the PLP believed that a bipartisan comprehensive approach to immigration reform would address not only the immigration issues that have divided families, but will also address protecting Bermudians from being marginalised from jobs and opportunities in our own country.

“The issues surrounding immigration in Bermuda are complex and carry with them significant baggage from historical misuse and abuse of immigration policies,” he said. “For that reason, we will continue to stand strong for an approach that is inclusive, addresses the full spectrum of issues and concerns surrounding immigration and that strengthens the job and economic security for Bermudians.”

•Yesterday’s events as they happened

Today’s work stoppage events as they happened:

9am: Protesters again descend on the grounds of the House of Assembly for a third day of industrial action.

Several hundred surround the Parliament building to show their opposition to the Government’s planned immigration reform. An estimated 300 gather around the House.

9.30am: Court of Appeal judges enter the Parliament building without incident. A police presence of about a dozen officers are also on the Parliament premises. Meanwhile, the gates to the Cabinet grounds are locked with a police van guarding the entrance on Reid Street.

9.30am: Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert addresses the crowd and announces that dockworkers will temporarily go back to work at 10am to unload the Oleander. Essential containers are expected to be taken to their destination throughout the course of the day. “We have to be accountable for the things we do. We will take the essential items off,” he says. “So the 42 guys are now going back to work and when they finish they come back here. If they are unable to get the refrigerated containers off then the items inside will have to be thrown away. This is the right thing to do. We are not irresponsible. Nobody can ever accuse the people of Bermuda being irresponsible. We have spoken with the port workers, they are going to go at 10am to take the 20 or so containers off the ship.” His announcement is greeted by applause.

9.45am: Mr Furbert tells the crowd to let court staff go about their daily duties in the Supreme Court. He says: “Our goal yesterday was to keep MPs out of the House of Assembly. If people want to come and go to the court today just let them go. Tomorrow is going to be a different day because if MPs try to get back in the House the people can make the same decision as yesterday. Let’s not be confused about why we are here.”

10.10am: Numbers gradually increase on the Hill but nowhere near the levels of yesterday. Music is playing and people are singing and dancing.

10.15am: The Ministry of Public Works advises that there will be no garbage collection today. However, residents are encouraged to take their trash to the Tynes Bay public drop-off, which will be open daily from 8am to 7pm (extended hours) for the rest of the week.

10.30am: Stevedoring workers began to unload refrigerated containers from the Oleander.

11am: Mr Furbert updates the crowd on the progress of dockworkers who have temporarily gone back to work to ensure that essential supplies are delivered. “There are about 23-25 containers that need delivering,” he says. “Once those are delivered they will join back up with us.”

11.15am: Mr Furbert warns the crowd of traffic wardens ticketing on Parliament and Church Street. “You need to protect yourselves,” he said.

11.20am: Mr Tweed, Mr Furbert and their supporters take another lap around the House.

11.30am: The rain begins to fall. Ronue Cann, vice-president and shop steward of BIU’s bus operators, calls on all bus operators to make an announcement under the cover of Sessions House. Criticising the Transport Ministry for attempting to get 20 workers to drive buses, he reports that all workers refused. He says: “Allied workers and mechanics must be on duty if the buses are on the road, but at the end of the day the buses are not running.” The crowd cheers.

11.40am: Protesters shelter themselves from the rain. The crowd is huddled under umbrellas or on the covered porch at Sessions House.

1.20pm: “We are here for our children and our children’s people,” protester Arnold Smith tells the crowd. “We are here because we are responsible people.”

1.34pm: The Royal Bermuda Regiment says it does not expect to have any public order involvement in the current protests contrary to rumours communicated by Mr Furbert yesterday. Governor George Fergusson tells The Royal Gazette: “The Royal Bermuda Regiment has always had a public order remit within its mission but there is no current expectation that it will be embodied or deployed.” The Regiment website says the current Notice to Move is 72 hours. The Senate is due to convene tomorrow.

1.35pm: Mr Smith tells the crowd to pair up for lunch, sending one half of each pair to get food. He says: “We have to remain.” He asks the crowd: “Are you with me?” The crowd answers: “Yes.” After granting them permission to get lunch, he reminds protesters to be “cordial, civil and responsible.” “They say we have no talent, they say we are lazy, they say we don’t come together,” Mr Smith continues. “It ain’t so. We are setting a path for our young people. This sacrifice really ain’t for us it’s for them. Get on the phone and call your friends. Get them here, because it’s not for us. It’s for them”

2.00pm: The Ministry of Tourism Development and Transport advise the public that there will be no bus or ferry service until further notice. The public will be advised of any change.

2.30pm: Winds and rain have again picked up, but demonstrators appear unfazed.

3.30pm: The following statement is released by Assistant Commissioner of Police Antoine Daniels: “Currently there are a number of rumours circulating throughout the Bermuda community, electronic and social, that suggest overseas military assistance has been summoned to assist the BPS during this period of civil protest and demonstrations. These rumours are not true as the BPS overarching principle of policing public protests is to facilitate free speech while protecting the rights of everyone. Where the police are required to intervene during a public protest, they will do so using the least intrusive and coercive law enforcement measures possible to resolve issues that arise.”

3.40pm: Mr Furbert takes the mic as the rain pours down and says “stick with us we will be back with an update in about half an hour.” Mr Furbert heads to “Bootsies” to have a conversation with the Ports division.

4.00pm: As the rain increases, the crowd thins out but a steady group of people remain.

4.15pm: A protester says “the rain has made us forget why were here. We’re not here cos we’re anti foreigner. We’re not here cos we don’t want them to have rights. We’re here cos as Bermudians we must be number one. What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!”

4.20pm: Arnold Smith says “no drinking alcohol. Anyone drinking should leave. This is about removing the bill.”

5.00pm: Mr Furbert tells the crowd they have a decision to make regarding what to do tomorrow as he can not be seen to be inciting anyone. Members call out “what time should we be there?” It seems they will be returning to the grounds of the House in the morning. Mr Furbert confirms there has been no further dialogue with the Bermuda Government today. “The OBA is not treating this like it’s a national issue”, he says.

5.15pm: “We are here for the long run,” says Mr Furbert. Mr Tweed says “tomorrow could be a make or break day.”

5.20pm: Mr Furbert says the protest is in line with section 10 of the constitution. He explains that the port workers have to return to work for a second time as the deliveries were not collected by the recipients the first time. He says they are doing it not for the Premier, “they are doing it for Bermuda.”

5.22pm Mr Tweed tells the crowd: “We need to show up for the work of justice; we need you to show up for freedom; we need to show up to engage in self determination. It’s only by taking our destiny in our hands that we can determine our future for as long as it takes. We are going to finish what we started!”

6.15pm OBA chair Lynne Woolridge releases the following statement: “Minister Fahy has been Home Affairs Minister with responsibility for Immigration since the election of 2012. He has been appointed by two Premiers and is dedicated to bringing order and rational reform to his ministry and, more specifically, Bermuda’s Immigration policy. His aim has been to make policy work more effectively for the collective benefit of the Island and all Bermudians.

“Immigration is a hot button issue around the world and Bermuda is no exception, as the past few weeks have demonstrated. Clearly, some of the decisions taken by Cabinet are controversial, but they have also been right for Bermuda’s well-being and instrumental in helping to bring about the economic recovery all Bermudians need. We can appreciate that Minister Fahy’s decisive approach to public issues disturbs some in the community, but he, like his Cabinet colleagues, is doing all he can as quickly as he can to create conditions that will provide the jobs and opportunity Bermudians need now.

“Ms Scott’s email is an example of the free and sometimes intense discussions the party conducts in fulfilling its commitments to providing the people of Bermuda with a strong, secure and prosperous future.”

• To read the Government’s press release about the Premier’s approach to the BIU, click on the PDF link under “Related Media”