Jason Hayward refuses to comment on claims of bust-up with Renée Ming over immigration
Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, has refused to be drawn on whether he had a bust-up with former Cabinet colleague Renée Ming over immigration policy.
The controversy comes as David Burt, the Premier, and challenger for the PLP leadership, Curtis Dickinson, hold their first head-to-head debate tonight.
It is understood that Ms Ming, who is seeking to oust Walter Roban as deputy leader, used an elections hustings event to express concern that it looked like more attention was being given to long-term residents on the issue of immigration than Bermudians.
When asked what he thought about her views, Mr Hayward told The Royal Gazette: “No comment.”
Pressed on whether she had a point on the issue, Mr Hayward said: “No comment.”
Asked if it was correct he had confronted Ms Ming on the matter after the deputy leadership election debate on Wednesday, Mr Hayward said: “No comment.”
Curtis Dickinson has said PLP members were being contacted from overseas numbers by people alleging to be supporters of him and his de facto running mate Renée Ming – but they had nothing to do with either candidate.
Mr Dickinson posted on social media: “It has come to my attention that party members are being contacted from overseas numbers claiming to be supporters of MPs Ming and Dickinson.
“To be clear, no one from my or MP Ming’s campaign have been authorised to make these calls nor have we distributed any of this contact information to anyone.”
The situation came ahead of the much anticipated clash between former finance minister Mr Dickinson and the Premier.
Despite the event being a key aspect in the process to elect the country’s head of government, both media and members of the public have been banned from attending the debate.
The clash comes after weeks of acrimony surrounding the contest to become PLP leader.
The two candidates were set to face off last Saturday, but Mr Dickinson pulled out with only hours to spare claiming that assurances he had been given on the format of the event had not materialised.
There has also been rancour in the contest about whether the list of the delegates who will decide the election had been made available to both candidates at the same time.
Mr Dickinson even went as far as to warn the PLP leadership against any “dirty tricks” campaign targeted at his bid to topple Mr Burt.
As the debate approached, the Premier refused to say whether he would accept a position in Mr Dickinson’s Cabinet if he won the leadership, or whether he would offer the ex-finance chief a post in his top team if he retained the premiership.
Ms Ming, the former national security minister, was contacted for comment.
The PLP elections will be decided on Thursday by the votes of 122 delegates selected by individual branches and the 30 party MPs.
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