Much has been made of Progressive Labour Party leader Marc Bean’s suggestion in the House of Assembly that Government drop its proposed Gaming Referendum.

However, Mr. Bean didn’t see his March 1, 2013 call on Government to “bring it” as a sign that he had ever pressured the One Bermuda Alliance to give up the ballot promised in the party’s election platform.

“Much has occurred since then and both parties reiterated the need for a referendum,” Mr Bean told The Royal Gazette when asked about the weight given to his remarks by the OBA.

The quote resurfaced in Friday night’s session of the House of Assembly, with OBA MP for Hamilton South Sylvan Richards telling MPs the opposition leader had “challenged us to forego the referendum”.

Questioning whether legislators had forgotten the remarks, Mr Richards said: “Sometimes I feel like I’m sitting in a twilight zone in this place.”

Quoting Mr Bean from the recording, Mr Richards read out: “Forget the referendum. Let’s just make a decision now.”

The transcript added: “If Government says it is within our national interests to avoid the cost, expenses and hassle of a referendum, and you want to make a decision — just bring it, man. You will have our full support. Bring it. Bring it.”

Mr Richards told the House: “That was not a suggestion — that was almost like an order.”

PLP MP Lawrence Scott responded: “Our party leader was talking about the wishy-washiness of Government, where they hadn’t been able to make a decision.”

Across the OBA side, Parliamentarians, including the Premier, maintained that there was no early division within Government over whether or not to proceed with a Gaming Referendum.

Mr Richards said: “We took his advice. So now it’s time to growS up and move on.”