Shadow Home Affairs Minister Walter Roban claimed today that government MPs had “collectively thumbed their noses” to a “significant portion of our community” by rejecting a joint select committee to examine immigration reform.

A motion for a bi-partisan committee to be formed was brought before the House of Assembly by Opposition member Walton Brown last night, where it was voted down by 18 to 14.

The motion was an attempt to stall passage of government’s proposed Pathways to Status legislation, which will give long-term residents greater rights to permanent residency and Bermuda status.

Mr Roban said in a statement this morning: “We are disappointed that the One Bermuda Alliance refused an olive branch extended by the Progressive Labour Party to establish a joint select committee on bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform.

“In taking this course of action, Premier Michael Dunkley and his fellow OBA members of Parliament have collectively thumbed their noses to and ignored the wishes of a significant portion of our community.

“This current government does not represent anything that it was elected under and clearly has lost its way. To the public, we, the Progressive Labour Party, continue to stand strong with you and we urge the public to take every opportunity to show the OBA government that you reject this proposed legislation.

“Bermudians must continue to contact their MPs and to make your views known, demanding that they reject the immigration legislation that was tabled tonight.”