The One Bermuda Alliance has been accused of underhand tactics in its immigration policy, while Trevor Moniz, the Attorney-General, pleaded for the Opposition to turn the temperature down and “wait for the numbers”.

The year’s first session of the House closed with a heated Motion to Adjourn, in which new Opposition MP Diallo Rabain, giving his first speech, told the OBA Government that it had roundly failed as an administration.

Progressive Labour Party MP Derrick Burgess said that hundreds, if not thousands of people, stood to gain status under OBA initiatives culminating in the “pathways to status” recently unveiled by Michael Fahy, the Minister of Home Affairs.

“Wake up with some common sense; think about the people of this country that are making less,” Mr Burgess said, while Opposition MP Walton Brown told Parliament that the new policies were “reminiscent of the proposals that we had in place in the 1960s” in their racial and political motivation.

Mr Brown branded the latest initiative “the most dramatic immigration legislation ever”, and loaded with an explicit political agenda. He noted that senator Fahy, in striking down term limits in 2013, had included a declaration to be signed by work permit holders indicating they would not be entitled to permanent residency — a move apparently contradicted in the new steps to open up permanent residency and status to long-term residents.

However, Mr Moniz responded that the Government understood the suffering of unemployed Bermudians and was doing its best to stimulate a mired economy.

“With this particular issue with pathways to status, we will be holding public meetings in the coming weeks,” the AG said. “Give us time to roll out the numbers and meet with the public, and you will see how this makes sense.”

Mr Moniz tried to assure a sceptical Opposition that the number of residents eligible would not be as high as it had been depicted, but Speaker of the House Randy Horton had to rein in an increasingly acrimonious debate.

Rising next, PLP MP Jamahl Simmons told the House that Bermudians had “embraced anyone who came to our shores” but received “disrespect, racism, intolerance and discrimination” in return.

Mr Simmons told the OBA side that “an honourable Government in the Westminster system that changes its agenda, goes to the polls”.

PLP MPs Rolfe Commissiong, Michael Scott, Lovitta Foggo, Walter Roban along with Marc Bean, leader of the Opposition and David Burt, the deputy leader, continued to lambaste the Government’s new immigration policy as the motion to adjourn went into the early hours of Saturday.

Mr Commissiong accused the OBA of adding scores of white voters to the roll, while black people were leaving the Island. Mr Scott branded the new immigration policy as “ridiculous” saying it was much too late for Mr Moniz to ask for patience.

“There is an ill wind blowing across our little island,” Mr Scott added. “If their (the Government’s) objective is to bring civil commotion then you could not wish for a better recipe.”

Ms Foggo urged the Government to desist with the policy saying: “Bermudians should be first and foremost” while Mr Burt added: “The Government is losing its legitimacy day by day. You are tinkering with the very existence of this country. I hope you will listen.”

Mr Bean warned the OBA: “You reap what you sow, the world is round and what is coming for you will not miss.”

But Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, the Minister for Community, Cultural Affairs and Sport, and Shawn Crockwell, the Minister for Transport and Tourism Development, launched a staunch defence of their party’s policies and record.

Mr Crockwell said he took exception to PLP claims that the OBA did not care about Bermudians saying: “This Government had nothing to do with the state of the economy” when it took office.

Meanwhile Ms Gordon-Pamplin condemned the PLP for “shooting down” every single policy advance by the Government.

She added: “They would rather see people hungry because it suits their narrative.”

Michael Dunkley closed the evening’s Motion to Adjourn by attacking the Opposition for its silence on the issue of same-sex marriage.

“They are silent,” the Premier said.

“They are like the church mouse, they don’t speak and wait for the Government to resolve the situation.”

Mr Dunkley accused the PLP of championing the rights of the people when it suited them and vowed that his party would continue to move the country forward and get the job done.