The Bermuda Housing Corporation affair could bring the issue of whistleblower legislation back to the fore.

More than a year ago, then Public Safety Minister Randy Horton pledged that a law to protect staff who highlight allegations of fraud and corruption would definitely be introduced to the Island.

Mr. Horton was speaking amid clamour for an overhaul in the law in the wake of the BHC fraud trial which saw Terrence Smith jailed for eight years.

He told the House of Assembly in May 2006: "The Government is pleased to state that there will be public and private sector whistleblower legislation on the agenda as part of our criminal law reforms."

Since then, the Opposition United Bermuda Party has called for whistleblower legislation on a number of occasions, and has recently stated it will bring the law in if it gets into power.

Countries operating whistleblower legislation include the UK, where individuals who disclose information to expose malpractice are protected from victimisation and dismissal, and the US, where employees who call attention to violations are protected by a wide variety of federal and state laws.