MPs are today set to approve legislation allowing vulnerable witnesses to be given new identities — but the United Bermuda Party is sceptical it will work.

People could very easily be tracked down on the small islands they'll be sent to hide under the Justice Protection Act, Shadow Attorney General Trevor Moniz warned, yesterday.

The bill aims to make witnesses less afraid of giving evidence in serious court cases, by letting them stay in Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos during the trial.

It paves the way for people to be given new identities so they can start a new life overseas, but AG Kim Wilson says in virtually all cases they would return to Bermuda when a conviction is secured.

Mr. Moniz, who will lead the UBP's response to the bill in the House of Assembly today, said: "I'm a bit sceptical of this sort of witness protection stuff.

"The funny thing is you have scheduled the places where the people are going to hide. For anyone trying to find them, it wouldn't be hard, would it?"

Mr. Moniz said one man recently sent to the UK for his own protection even ended up ringing Bermuda's talk shows from his supposedly safe haven in London.

However, he said his party would support the bill, explaining it may help encourage witnesses to drive-by shootings to come forward.

Sen. Wilson yesterday said the act, to be presented by Minister Michael Scott today, sets up a new Justice Protection Programme.

This will be run by a new Justice Protection Administrative Centre, which decides which witnesses are eligible for help, and a Justice Protection Investigative and Protective Agency, headed by the Commissioner of Police and staffed by other members of the Police Service.

In what is probably the penultimate Friday of this parliamentary session, MPs are expected to approve four other pieces of legislation.

Mr. Scott will also lead the debate on the Police and Criminal Evidence Amendment (No. 2) Act, which would change rules on custody time limits that are due to come into effect next summer.

Under the current proposals for next year, people in Police custody for most offences could only be held for up to 24 hours before they have to be charged or released.

That's in contrast to the current 72 hour limit.

However, the amendment would change the time limit to 42 hours, in order to give investigators extra time to get forensic tests and expert opinions.

Premier and Transport Minister Ewart Brown will present the Civil Airport (Amendment of Schedule) Order, which outlines the property owned by L.F. Wade International Airport.

And Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess is expected to go ahead with the West End Development Corporation Amendment Act, which gives Wedco control over an extra 61 acres of land, mostly underwater, off Ireland Island South. This land is said to be needed for marine projects.

Finally, UBP MP John Barritt could open debate on his private member's Parliamentary Election Amendment Act, which aims to help tidy up the voters register.

Mr. Barritt — who is unhappy that hundreds of voters are able to vote in places they no longer live — would give the registrar the power to strike incorrectly registered voters off the list.