An unspecified “sensitive technical issue” that stopped Parliament from finishing the Budget debate has been branded “unheard-of in Bermuda’s modern history” by the Opposition.

The Ministry of Finance in turn called the remarks by Douglas De Couto, the Shadow Minister of Finance, a “weak and shameless attempt by the Opposition to grab headlines”.

At the close of Monday’s business, David Burt assured legislators that the move accorded with “all things right and all things proper” under parliamentary procedure.

The Premier said the Budget would be approved on Friday morning in time for the Senate to debate next Monday.

On Monday night, capping off 56 hours of debate, MPs would typically have ratified the 2024-25 Budget.

However, Dennis Lister, the Speaker of the House, said he had spoken with representatives from both parties and decided to defer the remainder of the debate until Friday.

Mr Lister responded to questions raised by Michael Dunkley of the One Bermuda Alliance. He said: “There’s a technical issue that has to be resolved first and both parties have been consulted in a discussion with myself in the chamber.”

Pressed by Mr Dunkley for clarification, the Speaker said: “The reason you’re not getting an explanation tonight is because the matter is as current as it can be.

“We were only aware of it when I summoned your representative and the representative from the Government into my chambers and had a discussion about it.

“I made a decision that it’ll be carried over to Friday morning and on Friday morning you’ll get the appropriate explanation as to why we went to Friday morning to resolve it.

“But the matter is extremely current right now and it would be inappropriate to try and put a response to that when we don’t have all the facts in hand.”

The exchange came after the Budget presentation and fielding of questions by Wayne Furbert, the Minister of Transport.

Mr Furbert then called to rise and report progress until the next day of sitting.

Mr Dunkley insisted the House was “owed an explanation by the honourable Premier on how we got to this position”.

Mr Lister stuck to his guns, telling the House of Assembly he had made the call based on the information at hand.

The Speaker added that both parties at the meeting in chambers recognised “the sensitivity of what was before us”.

Douglas De Couto, the OBA senator, subsequently highlighted that the Government had been unable to bring “the required Appropriation Act to Parliament in time for the end of the debate, as has always been done”.

“In addition, the Government also failed to bring the Supplemental Estimates to the House prior to the end of the debate.

“These estimates are customarily supplied one or two sessions prior to the end of the Budget debate, in order to approve prior unbudgeted spending.”

Dr De Couto said lack of the Appropriation Act showed that the Government had “dropped the ball”.

He called for “a clear explanation of why this happened” versus “a thinly veiled excuse of technical issues”.

Dr De Couto disputed that the Opposition was consulted, He said the OBA was informed of “the Government’s failure at the end of the debate session, but no explanation was given when asked for”.

He questioned whether “the papers required for passing the Budget” had been prepared in time.

Attempts to reach the Speaker yesterday for clarification were unsuccessful.

However, the finance ministry went on the offensive in response to Dr De Couto.

“No manufactured issue escapes the Opposition in the continued quest for relevance — as they have put forward no plans or solutions in response to the first balanced Budget in 21 years.”

The OBA were accused of conducting the Budget debate as if wanting to see the island “fail”, counter to assessments from international business and global ratings agencies.

“On Friday, in full accordance with the law, the Appropriation Act will be introduced into the Legislature.

“The Opposition will have the opportunity to call for a roll-call vote on the Budget and state clearly for all of Bermuda to hear that they know more than the experts and stakeholders in our community, and that they are more interested in winning politically than seeing Bermudians winning economically.”