A handful of angry protesters thumped Minister Zane DeSilva's car 90 minutes after he tabled the Municipalities Reform Act.

Several Members of Parliament spoke out against the behaviour of the individuals.

Mr. DeSilva told The Royal Gazette minutes before the incident that he wasn't going to address the hundreds of protesters and added: "I am not going to comment on the Bermuda Public Services Union attending the protest, this is a democracy."

Shortly after, Mr. DeSilva made his way through the crowd, along with his wife Joanne and son Zane Jr., many in the crowd could be heard booing and jeering him.

Shouts of "coward" could be heard along with demands that Mr. DeSilva "come face us". Eyewitnesses told this newspaper they saw a handful of men thump the Minister's GP13 car, and shake it.

This reporter saw a man attempt to block the from leaving the grounds. The Minister declined to comment on the men's behaviour.

But several other MPs spoke out against it.

Bermuda Democratic Alliance MP Mark Pettingill was the first to mention it when the House of Assembly resumed at 2 p.m. He told his parliamentary colleagues he had witnessed the incident.

"They surrounded the car with the Honourable Member and his family inside, shaking it while shouting 'coward, coward, coward'," he said.

He added: "I was ashamed to be a white man in the community today."

Wayne Furbert of the Progressive Labour Party later asked: "Why are still like this in 2010?" and said he'd heard one individual call the Minister an idiot.

Grant Gibbons of the United Bermuda Party described the incident as "unfortunate" and said: "We on this side don't think it's right, the Honourable Members on that side don't think it's right, and the BDA don't think it's right at least we're agreed on that one thing."

The men involved in the incident were part of a group opposing reforms which will change the voting rights in City elections, reduce the Corporations right to collect taxes and wharfage deals and require them to pay land tax on all their property.

The Corporation of Hamilton believes the Act is a "hostile takeover" and amounts to "financial strangulation". The Government say it will eliminate a voting system created in 1923 which amounts to institutionalised discrimination.

The Act is based on a report compiled by US-based McKenna, Long & Aldridge in partnership with local firm Attride-Stirling & Woloniecki. The report itself has not been published.

The fact that it has not been published was a bone of contention for both the BPSU and the UBP.

BPSU president Armell Thomas said that as a member of the Corporation of Hamilton and a representative of Corporation workers, the union needed more information before supporting or opposing the legislation. When Mr. Thomas arrived with approximately 75 union members, the crowd erupted in cheers.

He then took the microphone and said: "Without accurate adequate information we are unable to make a decision to support or not to support the proposed bill. Joining in the rally is not an indication of support for or against the proposed bill, rather we are seeking that Government and the Corporation disseminate correct information to all stakeholders prior to debating this bill in the Honourable House.

"Our members are encouraged to support the union in its quest for information."

UBP leader Kim Swan said: "The report cost $600,000 of taxpayers' dollars. If you spend $600,000 you deserve to know what it says.

"As someone who has been elected to represent you I cannot do my job if I do not have the information that we paid $600,000 for."

Mr. Swan said he believed both the Corporation of Hamilton and St. George were moving in the right direction when it came to reforms. He said parliamentarians should delay the vote until after the summer, when people will have had more time to reflect and consult on the matters.

"We have only had this Act for seven days," he said. "This impacts people's jobs, this impacts this City. It is important. I support the BPSU coming today saying they did not have enough information or time to consider it."

Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling, who has led the campaign against the legislation, said 5000 people had signed a petition against the Act. He said his team had already implemented reforms such as open meetings

He added: "It's about making sure that all the people of Hamilton have their voices heard, and have a say in their own destiny.

"It's about protecting the jobs of so many who would be threatened under this rushed and ill-thought-out plan.

"It's about ensuring that Bermudians don't get burdened with higher taxes or cuts in services because of a back room deal with foreign consultants paid for with your taxpayer money.

"The people of Bermuda clearly do not want this.

"Yet some want to rush this bill through, without any public discussion or debate.

"If they really felt their takeover plan could withstand public scrutiny, why be afraid to let them examine and debate it?"