Premier Ewart Brown will return to the House of Assembly today hoping to convince his critics to pass two bills they’ve complained about in the past.

One of them — a bill to waive cabin tax on cruise ships — is understood to have previously come under fire at Progressive Labour Party caucus.

The other piece of legislation, aimed at improving internal supervision of Government activities, was unusually deferred midway through a session last December following criticism from the United Bermuda Party and Bermuda Democratic Alliance.

It comes after some PLP members predicted Dr. Brown may struggle to get his own legislation passed in his final few months before standing down as Premier in October, due to opposition within his own ranks.

The cabin tax bill — called the Miscellaneous Taxes Amendment (No. 2) Act — will give the Finance Minister the right to waive any or all passenger cabin tax on cruise ships visiting the Island.

Dr. Brown has stated such fees make Bermuda one of the most costly cruise destinations in the world, particularly compared to rival jurisdictions in the Mediterranean, and act as a deterrent to cruise lines.

However, The Royal Gazette understands PLP members have objected to the fact the bill lets waivers be granted retroactively — meaning cruise lines could be remunerated for all visits made throughout 2009, costing what is believed to be a six-figure sum.

The Internal Audit Act will set up a new Internal Audit Department to provide an overview of the managing and cost of Government activities.

Dr. Brown introduced the bill on December 4, but made the rare move to “rise and report progress” — effectively postponing the bill — after the UBP and BDA said it didn’t give enough independence to the overseeing team.

Yesterday, the Premier told this newspaper regarding the internal audit bill: “We have made a few amendments that should meet the favour of both sides of the House.”

Also during tomorrow’s session, the first since Christmas, Home Affairs spokesman Walter Roban will give a second reading to the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Amendment Act.

This legislation grants Government an extra two years to determine how much land is owned by non-Bermudians across the Island, as part of the controversial attempt to crack down on “fronting”.

Deputy UBP Leader Trevor Moniz will be calling for Government to give a progress report on its count.

The anti-fronting legislation as a whole is intended to stop trusts buying property for foreigners who are not legally entitled to it, and enhances the powers of the Chief Immigration Officer to require people to produce documents relating to land trusts.

Mr. Moniz yesterday said aspects which caused a stir in the past could raise their head again today, such as allegations it penalises Bermudians married to foreigners by limiting them to buying only one property.

Another bill scheduled for debate is the Bermuda Monetary Authority Amendment (No. 2) Act, which increases the number of non-executive members on BMA’s board from eight to ten, and increases the annual fees payable by licensed institutions.