PLP backbencher Renee Webb has accused male politicians on both sides of the House of cracking sexual jokes and making lewd comments during breaks from Parliamentary business.

?I would say I have the respect of most of my colleagues from a capability standpoint but there are sexual comments and innuendoes,? she said last week of her experiences in the kitchen and coffee room of the House.

?They tell you what they would like to do with you sexually and talk about some physical part and what they would like to do with it.

?Male politicians spend every single session in the kitchen talking about sex and making sexual jokes. That?s a tedious process when you are coming up there to do the work of the country and you?re really not in the mood to hear about sexual exploits. There are exceptions to this but it does apply to the majority.?

Claiming that this situation has been ongoing ever since she was first elected, Ms Webb said: ?It happens all the time. My point is that it?s a normal occurrence in Bermuda ? boys will be boys. It doesn?t matter whether its on a construction site or wherever, it?s something that?s culturally embedded and normal.

?I don?t think it?s anything that people would be surprised at. It?s normal when a group of men get together in Bermuda that they talk about women. It?s a preoccupation although whether it?s acceptable is another thing.

?I don?t know if it happens elsewhere but here it?s a natural thing for guys to do whether they are on the golf course or wherever. I don?t think you will see men marching on the street for me saying that.?

Ms Webb made her comments during an interview with about the status of women in male-dominated workplaces on the Island.

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