interests was unveiled in the House of Assembly yesterday by Speaker of the House Ernest DeCouto .

The move takes Bermuda politics closer to the day when Parliamentarians will have to declare jobs, gifts and directorships.

Mr. DeCouto said the Rules and Privileges Committee met to consider making a provision in the Rules of the House of Assembly for the establishment of a Joint Elect Standing Committee on a Register of Member's Interests.

This followed a report by a select committee headed by UBP backbencher Trevor Moniz that investigated the possibility of setting up a register an forming the committee.

"The main thrust is to increase the confidence of the public in their MPs and Senators,'' said Mr. Moniz at that time.

This report was backed unanimously when discussed in the House in May.

Mr. DeCouto said the Committee agreed on a series of recommendations which were contained in the report in the form of guidelines governing the register.

Parliamentarians were now asked to consider adding them to the Rules of the House of Assembly in a section entitled Rule 50, (B), (Life), Committee on a Register of Members Interests.

The proposed rules allow for the register to be set up to provide information of any monetary interests or other material benefits which an MP or Senator might receive and may be thought to affect their conduct or influence their actions, speeches or vote.

A Joint Select Committee on Members' Interests in the form of a standing committee would be appointed for the duration of the life of Parliament.

This committee would be made up of seven members, including a chairman. Five members would be MPs appointed by the Speaker while the other two would be appointed from the Senate by its President.

The committee would have the duty of: Examining the arrangements made for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of the register; Considering any proposals made by members or others as to the rules, form and content of the register; Considering any specific complaints or disputes made in relation to the registering or declaring of interests; Reporting on these or any other matters relating to Members' interests; Exercising a general oversight of the procedures for the registering and declaring of interests and making recommendations therein; and Reporting from time to time its interpretation of the scope of the various classes of pecuniary interests to the House of Assembly and Senate.

Mr. DeCouto added that the report also said the Clerk of the House shall act as the registrar of this committee.