Housing Minister David Burch has signalled support for reformers calling for anti-corruption and whistleblowing legislation in the aftermath of the Terrence Smith fraud case.

The Government has been accused by the Opposition of dragging its heels on the issue after rejecting anti-corruption legislation during a debate in Parliament last year and not making a firm commitment to legislation to protect those who expose fraudsters. However, Sen. Burch (pictured) told : ?I have no objections. I would support it.?

Smith, a Bermuda Housing Corporation worker who defrauded that organisation of more than $1.2 million, was convicted in March, although an appeal is said to be pending.

The man who successfully convicted him, Consultant to the Department of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser, said at the time that others might have been charged over the scandal if Bermuda?s Criminal Code had more modern anti-corruption legislation of the type found in most Western countries.

Following previous comments about this by Mr. Ratneser in 2004 ? which were echoed by the Police and later by Auditor General Larry Dennis ? Premier Alex Scott pledged to update the 100-year-old laws relevant to the BHC saga.

However, Mr. Ratneser confirmed that nothing has happened to change the law in the interim period. Mr. Dennis has recently called for the enactment of ?whistleblower legislation? to protect those who inform the authorities about suspected fraud ? a stance supported by the United Bermuda Party.

Although Attorney General Larry Mussenden told The Royal Gazette last month that that anti-corruption legislation is not on the cards at present and further cross-Ministry work was needed before a decision on ?whistleblowe? legislation, Sen. Burch said: ?I have no problems with either one of them.?

He added that that the whistleblower issue may be addressed in future Public Access to Information legislation.