A bill providing for the repatriation of foreign prisoners passed the House of Assembly yesterday with Government saying it represented a "humane but practical" approach to the issue.

But the Opposition United Bermuda Party (UBP) expressed concerns that it might send the wrong message to the international community about Bermuda's stance on crime and may not have the practical benefits being touted.

And the UBP remained unconvinced that the bill would not bring with it financial burdens to the Island's taxpayer.

The Repatriation of Prisoners Act 2002 extends to Bermuda the Council of Europe's Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons 1983 which allows for prisoner repatriation to each of the 44 signatory countries under certain conditions.

Prisoners must consent to being sent to serve the rest of their sentences in their normal country of residence.

Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister acknowledged in his introduction to the bill that not all countries that have nationals imprisoned in Bermuda are party to the Convention.

"Not all countries wish to repatriate their offending nationals, given that often times excessive cost is involved," he said.

"Despite this, the Convention represents the most comprehensive option currently available."

He said the bill made good business sense because the numbers of foreigners imprisoned in Bermuda far exceeded the number of Bermudians imprisoned abroad.

"It should be stressed that this is not a soft option as the remaining period of the sentence will have to be completed as if it had taken place in the jurisdiction which had originally imposed the sentence."

The bill provides that release conditions would be the rules in operation in the receiving country. And all foreign prisoners would have to be informed of their rights under the Convention and Bermudians in prison abroad will be able to petition to be repatriated.

Mr. Lister said other bills dealing with prisons were in the pipeline. "We are committed to prison reform from three main perspectives," he said.

"Firstly, to ensure that the safety of the community by protecting them from persons from whom they need protection. Secondly, by providing every opportunity for those falling afoul of the law the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves into productive members of society. Thirdly, to ensure that the prison system becomes a fiscally prudent operation to which this Bill directly speaks."

Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Patricia Pamplin-Gordon questioned whether Bermudians in prison abroad would want to be repatriated because of the stigma attached.

A prisoner "would perhaps not want anyone to know he has been incarcerated overseas," she said. But others, in sensational cases with lots of publicity, might take advantage of the Convention and come home to finish off their sentences.

Coverage of this debate continues in Monday's Royal Gazette