The Register of Interests ? a list designed to provide information about financial interests which could be thought to influence the actions of MPs ? is sitting virtually dormant, can reveal.

Just five entries have been made by MPs on the register during 2005, none of which are from members of the ruling Progressive Labour Party.

Many have not updated the register ? which requires information on directorships, paid employment, gifts, overseas visits and land interests ? for several years.

Several prominent ministers, including Premier Alex Scott, Deputy Premier Ewart Brown, and cabinet members Dale Butler, Walter Lister, Terry Lister and Michael Scott, have not written in the register since 2000.

Others, including ministers Neletha Butterfield and Randolph Horton have not added entries since 2001.

Many United Bermuda Party members too have not made entries for some time, among them John Barritt and Trevor Moniz, who have not done so since 2000.

Mr. Moniz, who campaigned to get the register set up to ensure openness and transparency from those elected to public office, said it is likely that many MPs have not updated their files because, like him, their situations have not changed.

However, what he perceives as a lack of willingness to engage with the voluntary register is something which frustrates him since it was designed to ensure that members do not have any conflict of interest when they are speaking or voting in the House.

?The frequency of entries is of concern and I am sure that some people?s entries are not up to date,? he said.

?I?m disappointed at the members of the PLP not being particularly keen on keeping their entries up to date. It?s a shame, as when they were in Opposition they were some of my biggest supporters for putting the register in place.

?It?s not a good sign, is it? We try to remind people to update their forms if they change their job, for example, but we rely on the media to highlight this issue.?

The register is overseen by a joint committee, and administered by the clerk and the Speaker of the House. However, Mr. Moniz remains keen on following the example of the British Parliament, and having the register overseen by an Ombudsman.

?There is no obligation on members to keep the register up to date,? he said. ?We have adopted the old British system which relies on the members and the Press to push it. It?s all a bit woolly and I would like a more defined system.?

Mr Barritt said he was ?embarrassed? that he had not updated his entry in the register since 2000, and acknowledged that his current details are out of date, as he is listed as being a partner of law firm Appleby Spurling Hunter, when that is no longer the case.

?I simply overlooked updating it, ? said Mr Barritt, who now practices as a consultant attorney with Mello Jones and Martin.

He confirmed he has now updated the register.

Premier Alex Scott said: ?Declarations on the register are not mandatory, but all of us have subscribed to the idea as a good idea.?

He explained that he had not submitted a new entry since 2000 as there had not been any change in his profile, and that he feels the current system is satisfactory.

?It?s there to make sure that in the case of Parliament you are not acting in our own interests but providing your best judgement on the subject,? he added.

Deputy Premier Ewart Brown told he feels that steps should be taken to make the register more user-friendly.

?I think there should be a regular reporting period when members could easily update their information in the register. Personally, whenever I have been given the form to complete I have filled it out and sent it back,? he said.

But he added: ?I believe that more members of the House would gladly participate in the exercise if there were fewer wild and groundless accusations from their colleagues. The frequent irrational outbursts from members who are clearly ?on mission? do nothing to encourage co-operation.?

Derrick Burgess of the PLP said that he had not made an entry on the register since 2001 as there had been no change in his situation.

?I have no concerns about the register, as people fill it in if things change. This is being done as well as it should be done,? he said.

In reference to Mr. Moniz?s calls for the register to be overseen by the Ombudsman, he said: ?There?s so many other things that need to be done, I?m not going to spend much time on that.?