The controversial political career of Derrick Burgess — selected highlightsn February 1998: Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess becomes Progressive Labour Party MP for Hamilton East in a by-election.n April 2000: Mr Burgess accuses the Supreme Court’s Vincent Meerabux of “ignorance” after the judge rules a general overtime ban on the docks is illegal. Mr Burgess is, in turn, accused of “advocating anarchy and lawlessness” by Shadow Home Affairs Minister Michael Dunkley. He responds by calling Mr Dunkley a “right-wing extremist”.n November 2002: Mr Burgess attacks Auditor General Larry Dennis for criticising the handling of the Berkeley senior school building project and the adequacy of a performance bond put up by a BIU holding company. Mr Burgess claims Mr Dennis carried out a special report because the contractors on the project were black. He describes Mr Dennis’s behaviour as indicative of the belief that “people of African descent are illiterate and chained in darkness”. Mr Dennis complains to the Human Rights Commission that the remarks are “inciteful, racist name-calling” but the HRC rules the comments do not breach the Human Rights Act.n July 2004: Backbencher Mr Burgess attacks The Royal Gazette in the House of Assembly, accusing the newspaper of being “evil and effectively racist” and adding: “It’s about time they started writing something positive about our people ... people of African descent.”n September 2006: After stepping down as BIU president, he is appointed Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety by Premier Alex Scott.n October 2006: His role under new Premier Ewart Brown changes to Minister of Labour and Immigration.n December 2006: Australian chef Anthony Reynolds resigns from Elbow Beach Hotel after allegedly joking about putting arsenic in Dr Brown’s food. Mr Burgess describes the comment as “tantamount to threatening an act of terrorism, a criminal act of a most heinous nature” and says Government acted swiftly to ensure Mr Reynolds left the Island. The same month, Mr Burgess revokes the work permit of Canadian Curtis Macleod after PLP MP George Scott claims the expat was disrespectful to him.n February 18, 2007: Mr Burgess says Mr Macleod’s permit was rescinded “as a result of unsatisfactory character and conduct”. The Supreme Court later overturns the decision, after his Ministry admits it was made unlawfully.n February 27, 2007: Mr Burgess holds a press conference during which he denies being biased against non-Bermudians but tells them to stay out of local politics. Mr Burgess says: “Any country you go in, you do not get involved in their politics. That is a common sense attitude you should take. I would never do it and I have never done it. I would be afraid to.”n February 28, 2007: Mr Burgess tells Opposition politician Michael Dunkley in the House of Assembly: “I’ll deal with you outside” after the then Deputy Opposition Leader calls for his resignation from Cabinet over the Macleod affair. Mr Dunkley says he took the remark to be a threat. When asked to elaborate on his comment, Mr Burgess tells this newspaper it is not allowed to report “unofficial” comments between MPs in the House.n December 4, 2007: Auditor General Larry Dennis threatens to sue Mr Burgess for libel over comments he made at a PLP rally in reference to a leaked police file about allegations of corruption at the Bermuda Housing Corporation.n December 20, 2007: Mr Burgess becomes Minister of Works and Engineering.n March 2008: The Minister calls for Adrian Robson, sports editor of The Royal Gazette, to be deported for criticising Bermuda’s under-19 cricket squad in an opinion column.n February 2009: An extraordinary press conference at the Cabinet Office hears that doctored copies of cheques were created to imply money was paid to Mr Burgess and Dr Brown by contractors on the under-construction, multimillion dollar Hamilton Police Station and Magistrates’ Court building. A police inquiry is launched.n March 2009: Mr Burgess admits ordering his staff not to comply with an investigation by the Auditor General because he was outraged over the false cheques scandal.n September 2009: Mr Burgess accuses Mr Dennis of making “mischievous and evil” comments by claiming Government ignored the suggestions of its own technical advisers and went with other contractors for the Berkeley project and police/court building.n January 2010: Government House says no one will be charged in Bermuda’s courts over the false cheques. Mr Burgess and Dr Brown say the cheques were produced in Canada and they will “seek redress” in the courts there.n October 2010: Mr Burgess is elected deputy leader of the PLP and becomes Deputy Premier and Public Works Minister.n November 2011: Mr Burgess, while remaining Deputy Premier, is demoted to Transport Minister.n December 2011: A special report released by Auditor General Heather Jacobs Matthews reveals Government paid more than $30,000 in legal fees for Mr Burgess and Dr Brown in relation to the false cheques affair, expenditure described as “improper and unjustified”. The same report reveals that the publicly funded Bermuda Land Development Company, which Mr Burgess was responsible for, paid $160,000 in consultancy fees to the chairman and deputy chairman of its own board, despite being warned of a potential conflict of interest. The document states that Premier Paula Cox recommended sacking the chairman and deputy chairman but Mr Burgess “took no action in that regard”.n June 1, 2012: The Royal Gazette reports on an angry physical altercation inside Sessions House between Mr Burgess and fellow Cabinet Minister Michael Scott. PLP sources said the row, on May 25, began because Mr Burgess was angry at Mr Scott’s suggestion he was planning to oust Ms Cox as party leader.n June 6, 2012: Mr Burgess resigns as Transport Minister. He issues a statement claiming media reports of the fight were “embellished” but adds he has stepped down because: “I will not allow anything to distract from our party’s effort to serve the people of Bermuda.”* Compiled by Sam Strangeways