Human rights, transparency, accountability and standards of governance were some of the issues raised last night when the public met with British MPs conducting an inquiry into the UK's Overseas Territories.

They were told about the failure of Bermuda's MPs to ensure that people are not discriminated against because of sexual orientation and heard claims that the last City of Hamilton election was not conducted properly.

Allegations about Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) failing in its duty to investigate fraud were also vented at a forum at Mount Saint Agnes Academy in Hamilton, as well as a suggestion that some employers are paying unacceptably low wages to migrant workers.

The forum was held by British MPs Andrew Mackinlay, John Horam and Malcolm Moss, members of the UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, which is scrutinising how the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is carrying out its responsibilities with regard to all of the Territories.

The inquiry — the first of its kind for ten years — is looking especially at standards of governance, the role of Governors, transparency and accountability, regulation of the financial sector, human rights and the relation between the Territories and the UK Parliament.

Members of the group Two Words and a Comma — which wants to see sexual orientation included in the Human Rights Act — were at the meeting and submitted information on their aims. Member David Northcott said the organisation did not want the UK to impose the amendment but hoped to change minds locally.