withdrawn by Government for a second time.

On Friday, the House of Assembly was due to debate the Historic Wrecks Act which has pitted archaeologists against divers.

But Finance Minister Grant Gibbons announced he was taking the legislation off the schedule -- although he stressed Government was still intent on introducing the bill in the future.

It is the second time that debate on the legislation has been delayed. It was due to be discussed last March but was pulled from the House of Assembly's schedule after stirring a storm of controversy.

Maritime Museum director Dr. Ed Harris demanded that the legislation be replaced saying it betrayed the Island's heritage.

The National Trust and UBP MP Trevor Moniz, a member of the Maritime Museum board of directors, also called for it to be revised.

Dr. Gibbons said the legislation was withdrawn as further amendments would be made and it made no sense to introduce it now.

"Last time it was not debated because the National Trust said it wished to put forward some refinements,'' added the Minister.

"We have since received a number of written recommendations from the National Trust and they are currently with the Historic Wrecks Committee which is considering them.'' Dr. Gibbons said he was unsure whether the legislation would come back before the House during this session because of the weight of legislative work.

However he added: "This in no way should be read as Government not wishing to proceed with the historic wreck legislation.

"It reflects only on the fact that we have had a number of suggested refinements from the National Trust which are under consideration.'' Amanda Outerbridge, the Trust's director, told The Royal Gazette that one of the organisation's concerns centred on the protection of new wrecks.

"Under the legislation, a new wreck has to be gazetted before it is protected and that could take weeks. We want wrecks to be protected from the moment they are found,'' she said.

"We were concerned that we were not consulted in the first instance when the legislation was tabled earlier this year.

"We formed a committee with the Bermuda Maritime Museum and extensively reviewed the legislation. We felt there were some fundamental problems with it.

"Government has accepted our recommendations quite favourably and is now reviewing the legislation,'' she added.

WRECKS WKS