marketing and promotion of pornographic satellite programmes on the Island.

But they also called on parents to pay closer attention to what their children watch on television.

Their comments came as they unanimously passed the Senate Obscene Publications Amendment Act 1995.

Government Senate Leader the Hon. Gerald Simons (UBP) said there had been developments in technology since the Obscene Publications Amendment Act was passed in 1973, including in computer software.

He added the Act does not prohibit pornographic materials from being available, but it does prohibit the marketing and promotion of them and the importation and sale of pornographic computer programmes.

"It is the duty of the society to protect itself and its younger members from certain television channels distributed on satellite which contain hard-core pornography.

"Sales have been advertised in Bermuda, and advertisements must be prohibited for these types of services,'' Sen. Simons said.

However, he added that determined adults will continue to find ways to get those channels by descrambling.

"There are also certain obscene computer software disks available. The world over will have to wrestle with this problem.'' Sen. Simons also said people should not be unmindful of the effects of television on people and young people.

"Having exposure to certain violent and pornographic shows is reason for aggressive behaviour in children and teens. They have difficulty differentiating between what they see on television and reality.

"Parents should monitor children's exposure to television and the law will assist parents by restricting sales.'' Senate Opposition Leader Sen. Milton Scott (PLP) said the Act did not address the so-called information superhighway of Internet.

"At 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning parents are trying to get a few hours of sleep, they are not wondering what there children are watching on the HBO movie channel.

"If you can block out a boxing fight on HBO I am sure there is something someone can do in Bermuda to block out obscene television,'' Mr. Scott said.

He added that in order to protect children adults will have to be denied certain things.

"The Act does not take into consideration the recent advancements in technology. We need to have a living legislation that is able to change with the times.'' Sen. Alf Oughton (Ind) agreed that parents needed to be more vigilant on screening what their children watch.

Sen. Neletha Butterfield (PLP) said that it was important to keep abreast of technology and suggested that families needed to get back to watching the classical movies that they use to watch.

Sen. Norma Astwood (Ind) said the Act was outdated before it is even started.

And she said the increase in fines from $500 or six months in prison to $5,000 and 12 months in prison was just a drop in the bucket compared to the damage that women and children could face.

Sen. Gary Pitman (UBP) said pornographic films encouraged more violent behaviour towards women.

Sen. Larry Scott (UBP) said he agreed with the Act because "a moral decline in society dictates that what we see on the television is offensive. If it is necessary to remove television, satellites etc. from the home, that is the responsibility of the individuals in society.'' Sen. Terry Lister (PLP) said the Government was at fault as it had not moved forward with the Act in 15 years.