The Immigration Reform Action Group (IRAG) has expressed its disappointment after a Bill, brought about by Progressive Labour Party MP Walton Brown to form a joint select committee to examine immigration reform, was rejected in the House of Assembly by 18 votes to 14 on Monday night.

The group has now called for “all workers to support” the PLP’s stance on the issue.

In a statement released this morning the IRAG said: “Government voted en bloc against the motion taken to the House of Assembly as a matter of Urgent Public Importance by Member of Parliament which called for the Government to appoint a Joint Select Committee to (1) examine the wide range of issues involved in comprehensive immigration reform; (2) propose for the consideration of Parliament a set of comprehensive immigration reform measures ; and (3) submit its report within six months.

“The IRAG is aware that the many Bermudians who listened to the House of Assembly debate on Monday night (March 8) were saddened by the responses of the OBA members of parliament to a matter that we believe to be extremely concerning to the majority of the people of Bermuda.

“To date we have staged peaceful protests on behalf of the people of Bermuda to show our concern. However, it appears that the OBA Government is not listening to the people of Bermuda, especially in light of the show of solidarity that was evidenced on Parliament Hill on Friday, March 4.

“The people of Bermuda are now aware that one, woman, Enda Matthie, has decided to show her “solidarity with her fellow Bermudians” on this issue and the many other issues that are currently plaguing Bermuda by staging a hunger strike and has camped out on the grounds of Parliament. This is unacceptable.

“The IRAG is calling on all Bermudians, in particular, the workers of Bermuda, to show their support for efforts to have the OBA Government to remove the bill entitled the “Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act 2016” from the Order Paper and instead, agree to a bipartisan approach to Immigration Reform.”