Immigration Minister David Burch was advised to "check" himself by the Senate President yesterday after he told his Opposition counterpart Michael Dunkley in the Upper Chamber: "You are not in charge here."

Senator Burch made the remark after refusing to answer questions on work permits tabled by Sen. Dunkley.

The UBP politician later told The Royal Gazette the Minister's behaviour was "uncalled for". "You don't have to get personal and vindictive," said Sen. Dunkley. "The Minister has always shown his dislike for me and I don't have any problem with that.

"Politics can be very divisive at times but there is no need to get into that type of stuff. I'm just trying to do my job. I'm not going to stop asking questions."

Sen. Burch told members he would not answer the work permit questions because they offended a rule of the Senate.

When Sen. Dunkley asked what the problem was, the Minister said he had submitted more than the allowed three questions and advised him several times: "Follow the rules."

He spoke over Sen. Dunkley and the latter complained: "It's totally out of order and the Minister needs to check himself."

At that point, Sen. Burch said: "You are not in charge here."

President Carol Ann Bassett, an independent member, told Sen. Dunkley he had the floor and advised the Minister: "Check yourself, Senator Burch."

Sen. Dunkley said he would not degrade himself by getting drawn in.

After the lunch break, he and party colleagues Jeanne Atherden and Suzann Roberts Holshouser re-tabled the queries, breaking them down and asking three each. Sen. Dunkley said they were accepted by the president.

The questions are:

l Sen. Dunkley: What is the total number of work permits issued annually in 2008 and 2009 and up to the end of May 2010 to private sector employees not married to Bermudians in the three categories of: three months, up to a year and two to five years?

l Sen. Roberts Holshouser: What is the total number of work permits issued annually in 2008 and 2009 and up to the end of May 2010 to public sector and quango employees not married to Bermudians in the three categories of: three months, up to a year and two to five years?

l Sen. Atherden: What is the total number of work permits in all categories, issued annually in 2008 and 2009 and up to the end of May 2010 to private sector employees not married to Bermudians, broken down by industrial sector?

Sen. Dunkley said he and his colleagues would continue to ask until they got answers from the Minister.

"When they were tabled he could have easily sent them back the next day. It's no problem. If he wants to play those games, I'll listen to the advice of the president. I don't give up easily."