The Opposition accused the One Bermuda Alliance of disregarding the voices of the people during the House of Assembly last night.

Zane DeSilva, Walter Roban, Rolfe Commissiong, Jamahl Simmons, Wayne Furbert and David Burt all spoke out in the House with the message that the OBA have not listened to the public and ignored protesters who gathered outside the building earlier in the day.

PLP MP Mr DeSilva accused Sylvan Richards of “gerrymandering” and strategically setting up votes by using his position on the boundary commission.

Labelling this perceived failing a “trust deficit”, he said OBA has put policies in place that they would never have earned votes with had they proposed them sooner.

He also said that polls taken in 2012 suggested that the OBA had inherited the white vote, a hypothesis fellow party member Rolfe Commissiong agreed with.

Continually referring to them as the UBP, Rolfe Commissiong accused the government of being part of a long-established racialised system that disadvantaged black Bermudians.

He said polls prior to the election always indicate “the same thing” — namely, that 85 to 90 per cent of whites will vote for the OBA.

The backbencher called it a stumbling block that has stunted the growth of the country and that today’s events “send a powerful signal to the leaders of this country”.

“We don’t want to see this country torn apart but if it does it rests solely on the shoulders of this Government,” he said.

Walton Brown, meanwhile, accused the Premier of ignoring “clearly demonstrated concerns”.

He said: “This Government has taken one of the most divisive issues in the country and turned it into an opportunity for political gain.

“Government must listen. They must have a level of sensitivity. It seems that this Government refuses to learn any lessons of history.

“I’m one person. Don’t listen to me — listen to the voices that were out there today.”

David Burt called the Government rule “tyranny”, saying: “If you arrive at your position before you consult, you are not listening.”

He said Michael Dunkley had lost control over his own party and could not pass legislation, noting comments made in yesterday’s edition of The Royal Gazette regarding the same-sex marriage referendum. Mr Burt concluded: “The premier is weak. This Government has lost its way. The people are tired and I suggest that the Premier put himself out of his misery, go to the Governor and ask him to dissolve parliament.”

The Premier did not respond in the House but when asked by this newspaper about Mr Burt’s claim he did not have control of his party, he said: “I don’t agree with that in any way.

“You can ask any member of my cabinet and they will tell you their opinions.

“I believe very strongly that this Government has very difficult decisions to make and when you have difficult decisions to make people are going to question those decisions.

“It’s easy to be the Opposition because you can say whatever you want and there’s no accountability.

“This Government took over in 2012 and this country was in an absolute mess and every decision we have made has been difficult.

“We are making the way forward and we will not be sidelined by the opposition.”