An independent inquiry should look into communications between the government and police as officers prepared to take on protesters blocking the gates to Parliament, Walter Roban, the Shadow Minister of National Security, said this evening.

Five days on from the clash on Friday, Mr Roban said both the Progressive Labour Party and the public continued to be “kept in the dark by the country’s leadership as to the identity of those who were informed prior to the execution of police orders which harmed peaceful protesters”.

“There has been nothing received from Government House, the Government or the Bermuda Police Service, either verbally or in writing, answering the questions of who had knowledge of the planned actions and who gave such orders that resulted in the escalation of the situation.”

Specifically, Mr Roban queried whether Michael Dunkley, the Premier, or other government MPs had been informed of the deployment of the police support unit that confronted demonstrators — and whether the use of pepper spray and other tactics had been discussed.

Mr Roban also criticised Senator Jeff Baron, the Minister of National Security, for not giving his personal verdict on the use of pepper spray.

In earlier remarks, Mr Baron said it would be inappropriate for him to opine as minister, saying that the Commissioner of Police controlled operations.

The statement from the Opposition came as the Bermuda Trade Union Congress called for an independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the confrontation.

In a statement issued this evening, addressed to the new Governor John Rankin, the BTUC also called for police officers who deployed pepper spray on protesters to be suspended pending the commission’s ruling.

The group called on Mr Dunkley to withdraw the airport legislation “that has caused so much angst to the people of Bermuda”.

The statement likened the police support unit to a “paramilitary” group, saying they were “bent on destruction”. Protesters, said to be exercising their constitutional right, had been “savagely and barbarically assaulted”, with many “still complaining of injuries”.

To read the full statements, click on the PDF documents provided under Related Media.

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