A former Minister of Home Affairs claims allowing gambling on cruise ships "will not be good for Bermuda".

Quinton Edness, formerly of the UBP government, is urging MPs to vote against the Prohibition of Gaming Machines Amendment Act 2009.

In March, the House of Assembly approved the first nine clauses of the Act but Premier Dr. Ewart Brown then asked the House to rise and report progress, as it appeared there was not enough support for the Bill to pass.

Government MPs Alex Scott, Wayne Perinchief and Patrice Minors joined Opposition MPs in speaking out against it. Two PLP MPs, Dennis Lister and Ashfield DeVent, were also absent.

According to Parliamentary protocol, a Bill suspended in the Committee stage can be reintroduced in the same Parliamentary session. Dr. Brown has until the summer recess to resurrect it.

The gaming Bill is now back on the Order list for the House and is expected to be reintroduced today.

Yesterday Mr. Edness said he believed permitting gambling on visiting cruise ships would harm the Island's economy.

"The passing of this Bill in the House of Assembly to promote gambling on cruise ships which come alongside will not be good for Bermuda," he said.

"It will mean persons who would ordinarily go into shops, go sightseeing and do other things, many of them are likely to stay onboard the ship. So I would urge the Chamber of Commerce, the Employers Council and people who care about Bermuda's economy to resist this and speak against it."

Mr. Edness added: "It is the thin edge of the wedge in terms of developing Bermuda as a gambling destination, as restaurants, bars and hotels will then want to promote the same thing.

"I've opposed gambling in Bermuda for a very long time because I don't believe it will help this country and its economy."

Premier and Tourism Minister Dr. Brown has said the Island must adapt to a changing tourism industry.

During the debate in March however, Shadow Justice Minister Mark Pettingill argued the Bill was contrary to the Bermuda Constitution, in terms of discriminating against people on the grounds of 'place of origin'.

He said the Act would allow cruise ship passengers to gamble in dock, but not Bermudians themselves to gamble on land.

"Anyone who isn't a passenger is being discriminated against," he said.

The Orders of the Day for the House of Assembly are as follows:

Second Reading (Resumption in Committee): The Prohibition of Gaming Machines Amendment Act 2009;

Second Reading: The Civil Airports Amendment Act 2009;

Second Reading: The Auxiliary Bicycles Amendment (No.2) Act 2009;

Second Reading: The Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 2009;

Second Reading: The Public Holidays Amendment (No.2) Act 2009.