Outspoken Opposition MP Trevor Moniz has written to Baroness Scotland in a bid to get members' interests and assets included in the new Constitution of Bermuda.

In November, members of the House of Assembly agreed to register and make public what properties they owned, their employment, shareholdings, directorships, sponsorship, and any overseas trips they make.

It followed a six-year campaign by Mr. Moniz, who said that, in order for Government and Opposition to be fully transparent and accountable to the public, they should declare their interests.

The aim is to prevent good decision-making being hampered by undue influences.

And the maverick MP, who is known for speaking his own mind -- even if it goes against his party's policies -- said he believed the register of interests should be included in any new Constitution.

Mr. Moniz said: "I have written to Baroness Scotland with my opinion that the register should be a part of the Constitution.

"In the modernisation checklist that Government received from the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) about updating the Constitution, it states that the register of interests should be included.

"We agree that the Constitution needs to be updated, but we believe we should address it not in a piecemeal fashion, but the whole, big picture.

"This is on the FCO checklist, so it should be done in Bermuda as we are changing the Constitution.'' Mr. Moniz faced some opposition to his efforts to set up a register, which resulted in a compromise -- and a loophole.

The "bare all'' register will not include the assets of MPs' spouses or dependents.

Members' interests should be in Constitution -- Moniz Spouses need only declare what gifts, hospitality and benefits they have received both here and overseas, along with which overseas visits they have taken.

This means there is a possibility that some members may transfer ownership of assets into the names of their spouses and dependents before completing the forms in order to keep them out of the public eye.

How easy that can be monitored is yet to be seen.

However, one thing that cannot be included in the register is members' debts.

In November, Mr. Moniz hoped that the forms would be completed and handed in within two weeks, but yesterday he said some MPs were dragging their feet.

Only four PLP forms had so far been handed to the clerk, and only eight UBP MPs had completed their forms and submitted them to the clerk.

One Independent and one UBP senator had already completed the forms.

Government backbencher and Whip Ottiwell Simmons said he collected in some forms from his party and had passed them on to Premier Jennifer Smith's office, but of last night The Royal Gazette was unable to find out how many had been completed.

However, Mr. Moniz said he had hoped to have all the forms in by now, and had set a deadline of February 9, for the re-convening of Parliament.

Then, he said, a register would be drawn up of those that had been submitted, and any MPs who had not complied would be left off and shamed.

Mr. Moniz added: "I was hoping to get them all in by now, but we are still waiting.

"I hope they hurry up and do it. The House sits again on February 9 and we need to get the register up and running.

"One of the reasons for having this register is so that when members debate issues in the House, we can see who needs to declare an interest.

"I will report back to the House and say if any of the forms have not been done. A register will be drawn up and made public with those that we have at the time and those that have not still offered the information will become obvious.'' Trevor Moniz