After it was introduced in the House during the morning session, Opposition members reluctantly debated the International Sanctions Bill on Friday evening, claiming they received it only 45 minutes before they were set to discuss it.

The bill allows Bermuda to enact non-United Nations economic and other types of sanctions.

UN sanctions are applied to Bermuda once the United Kingdom formally extends them to the Island, but there is no mechanism to extend to Bermuda sanctions imposed by other bodies such as the European Union.

The International Sanctions Bill will basically empower the Legislative Affairs Minister to make subordinate legislation making Britain's non-United Nations sanctions obligation effective in Bermuda.

The Minister will also be allowed to make regulations allowing for putting sanctions busters on trial.

"We have agreed that common courtesy should have been given that it would be read a second time today," Opposition leader Dr. Grant Gibbons said.

Referring to Attorney General Dame's absence in the House due to an injury, Dr. Gibbons suggested that someone else could have introduced the legislation before Friday's session.

"We have hardly been rushed off our feet. We see disorganisation," he said.

Shadow Minister Legislative Affairs John Barritt said he felt the Opposition was being muscled to pass the bill.

"But when you allow yourselves to be bullied, then that is an abdication of responsibility.

"What is the rush that it can't be taken up when we come back (after the Easter break)?" he asked.

"I can't believe that the AG's Chambers ground to a halt in her absence. And if it did, shame on the Government."

While he said he had grave resolutions about passing the bill, Mr. Barritt suggested that it could result in a negative impact on the Island.

"When it comes to Bermuda, all of us want to put Bermuda first," he said. "To allow something like this to go forward this way I say shame."

But Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said the Opposition needed to understand the relationship between Bermuda and the UK.

"What I'm hearing is that we should tell the UK how to handle these things," he said.

"To understand, you need to understand the fundamental relationship between the UK and Bermuda. There comes a time when a reality check is in order."

However, Opposition Whip Maxwell Burgess said the Government was not thinking about the people of Bermuda by pushing the bill through.

He said by the Government being discourteous to the United Bermuda Party, it is, by extension discourteous to the people of Bermuda.

"This is a matter for which we are committing ourselves at an international level," he said.