The Bermuda Chamber of Commerce says it will support gambling on cruise ships in port if this will attract smaller ships back to the Island.

The Chamber threw its weight behind Premier Dr. Ewart Brown's gaming bill yesterday, saying it would support the concessions as long as they were "judiciously used to entice the desired smaller ships back into the City of Hamilton and Town of St. George's".

The Royal Gazette understands Dr. Brown will not put the bill to a Parliamentary vote today but that it could be reintroduced in the coming weeks.

If passed, The Prohibition of Gaming Machines Amendment Act 2009 would allow cruise ships to operate their casinos in port in Bermuda between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

In March Dr. Brown had to withdraw the bill as it faced potential defeat, with rebel Progressive Labour Party MPs ready to join the Opposition in a conscience vote.

In the past week, the Premier's Press Secretary Glenn Jones and PLP chairman David Burt have publicly stated that the Chamber of Commerce and Corporations of Hamilton and St. George's all support the Bill.

On Tuesday The Royal Gazette reported Mayor of St. George's Mariea Caisey as saying gambling would encourage cruise ships to come to Bermuda.

Ms Caisey did not return our requests for comment on the Corporation's official position yesterday.

However, Mayor of Hamilton Sutherland Madeiros said the Corporation of Hamilton did not have a stance either way. He also indicated the gaming concessions were not seen as an urgent issue.

Mr. Madeiros said he was "astounded" at comments by Mr. Jones and Mr. Burt this week, saying the Corporation backed gambling.

"I am astounded that those comments were made because we went public, recently. We surveyed our constituents, they were pretty evenly split for and against gambling," he said.

"We went public to say the Corporation of Hamilton did not take a stance on gambling, that it was an individual thing.

"The Corporation as a group does not have a consensus on gambling, but I would venture to say if we were presented with a case that we could acquire two ships on a contract basis for an extended period of time that the feeling about gambling on the cruise ships might be more receptive."

Mr. Madeiros said: "We have been promised by the Minister of Tourism that we will have a cruise ship available to us on a regular call basis for more than 20 calls for 2010 and 2011. There was no discussion about gambling with respect to that cruise ship. So we have some breathing space to decide about gambling on cruise ships."

However, last night Mr. Jones told The Royal Gazette: "I think we have reached the point where the Corporation's support is necessary in the same way it was necessary from the Chamber of Commerce. We must act now to attract small ships for Hamilton later."

Yesterday the Chamber of Commerce admitted there had been "passionate" debate about whether to allow gambling in port.

In a statement "supported by the executive committee", executive vice president Diane Gordon said: "Earlier this year the Chamber surveyed its members regarding cruise ship concessions being considered by the Minister of Tourism and Transport (Dr. Brown).

"In broad terms our members who responded were not opposed to the proposed changes, however, a number of suggestions regarding the detail of the proposal and how certain aspects could be modified to accrue better benefit to the local economy were outlined and a submission was presented to the Ministry of Tourism and Transportation."

According to a February 16 letter to Cherie Whitter, Tourism and Transport Permanent Secretary, seen by this newspaper, the suggestions included a three-year limit to the concessions, plus a report into sales locally and on-board after the first 12 months, to "assess the impact of the concessions on the local economy".

The Chamber also called for more local entertainment on ships in dock and for passengers to be able to purchase duty-free goods in local shops, to offset the liners' "unfair competitive advantage".

Mrs. Gordon said local companies should enjoy the "same benefits" as the ships' shopping and entertainment concessions.

It was unclear yesterday whether the Ministry will be considering any of these suggestions.

Mrs. Gordon said in the statement: "The Chamber is supporting the cruise ship concessions in order for the Ministry to investigate and capture smaller, niche ships for the City of Hamilton and St. George's moving forward.

"The Chamber has received submissions from both the Ministry of Tourism and Transportation, and cruise lines themselves, that in order for Bermuda to attract the smaller niche ships (which generally attract a much more affluent and urbane passenger), Bermuda must provide the same opportunities that other cruise ship destinations are doing, as well as offset the disadvantage cruise lines have in only calling for extended stays on Bermuda.

"The Chamber has been advised that concessions are being sought and possibly awarded to the cruise lines in the form of casinos being operational while in port during the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. only. The Chamber has based its decision on information provided by the Ministry and its representatives, and has taken the suggestion that cruise ships will not consider Bermuda as a destination unless some form of concession is given to also arrive at this position.

"The Chamber supports the concessions being considered, provided that the cruise line gaming concessions be judiciously used to entice the desired smaller ships back into the City of Hamilton and Town of St. George's."