A group of demonstrators has begun to gather outside the House of Assembly for a third day of protest.

By about 9am, an estimated 200 to 300 had gathered around the House; yesterday’s protest drew more than a thousand protesters.

It comes after nine hours of protest against the Pathways to Status legislation yesterday, delaying debate of the Bill to tomorrow.

Cabinet Grounds, meanwhile, have been locked off, with police at the gate and parked behind the Cabinet Building.

The Bermuda Government has not confirmed any disruptions to service, but it is believed that buses and ferries will not be in operation this morning. The Government has also failed to confirm if public schools will remain open, although some schools have said that today is business as usual.

Today’s events as they happened

9am: Protesters have again descended on the grounds of the House of Assembly this morning for a third day of industrial action.

Several hundred have surrounded the Parliament building to show their opposition to the Bermuda Government’s planned immigration reform.

An estimated 300 had gathered around the House.

9.30am: Court of Appeal judges enter the Parliament building without incident.

A police presence of about a dozen officers was also on the Parliament premises.

Meanwhile, the gates to the Cabinet grounds have been 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 are gradually increasing on the hill but so far are 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 has begun to work the Oleander at Hamilton Docks to unload refrigerated containers.

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 are taking another lap around the House.

11.30am: The rain begins to fall. Ronue Cann, vice-president and shop steward of BIU’s bus operators, has called on all bus operators to give an announcement under the cover of Sessions House. Criticising the Transport Ministry for attempting to get 20 workers to drive buses, he reported that all workers refused. He said: “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 doing their best to 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 told the crowd. “We are here because we are responsible people.”

1.34pm: The Royal Bermuda Regiment has said 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 told 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 it says the current Notice to Move is 72 hours. The Senate is due to convene tomorrow.

1.35pm: Mr Smith told the crowd to pair up for lunch, sending one half of each pair to get food. He said: “We have to remain.” He asked the crowd: “Are you with me?” The crowd answered: “Yes.” After granting them permission to get lunch, he reminded 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 continued. “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 have advised 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 the demonstrators appear unfazed. Eating lunch and listening to ‘Ain’t no Stopping us Now’.

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 took to the mic as the rain began to say “stick with us we will be back with an update in about half an hour.” Mr Furbert is heading to “Bootsies” to have a conversation with the Ports division.

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

4.15pm: Protester takes to the mic to say “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 called out what time should we be there? It seems they will be returning to the grounds of the House in the morning. Mr Furbert confirmed there had been no further dialogue with the Bermuda Government today. “The OBA is not treating this like its a national issue”, he said.

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

5.20pm: Mr Furbert said the protest was 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.”