Approximately 300 people marched on Parliament this afternoon asking politicians to delay their vote reforming Bermuda’s municipalities.

Seventy-five members of the Bermuda Public Service Union joined the throng.

BPSU president Armell Thomas and United Bermuda Party leader Kim Swan called for the findings of a $600,000 review of the municipalities to be made public and MPs to delay their vote.

Members of Parliament are currently debating the Municipalities Reform Act at the House of Assembly.

The Act is based on a report compiled by US-based McKenna, Long & Aldridge in partnership with local firm Attride-Stirling & Woloniecki. The report itself has not been published.

The Corporation of Hamilton believes the Act is a “hostile takeover” and amounts to “financial strangulation”. The Government say it will eliminate a voting system created in 1923 and amounts to institutionalised discrimination.

Minister without Portfolio Zane DeSilva opened the debate shortly before the House broke for lunch. He criticised the Corporation of Hamilton’s media campaign, saying the bill would bring the municipalities into the modern era.

Corporation of Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling delivered a petition with 5,000 signatures to the Sergeant at Arms this afternoon.

He said: “It’s about making sure that all the people of Hamilton have their voices heard, and have a say in their own destiny.

“It’s about protecting the jobs of so many who would be threatened under this rushed and ill-thought-out plan.

“It’s about ensuring that Bermudians don’t get burdened with higher taxes or cuts in services because of a back-room deal with foreign consultants paid for with your taxpayer money.

“The people of Bermuda clearly do not want this.

“Yet some want to rush this bill through without any public discussion or debate.”

For a full report see tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.