Hamilton Rotary Club members will decide next week whether to continue to allow political speakers to address their weekly lunch meetings.

It follows criticism from Government Senate Leader Colonel David Burch and Tourism Minister Renee Webb this month that Rotary has become a mouthpiece for the United Bermuda Party (UBP) - a charge the organisation rejects.

The club's executive discussed the issue after yesterday's meeting at Tuscany restaurant and decided to put it to the membership next week.

Rotary President W. A (Toppy) Cowen told The Royal Gazette last night: "We'll take it to the membership and see whether they agree (with banning political speakers).

"We'll have to wait and see. I guess we have to think about what is good for Rotary as every once in a while we have to sit back and see whether we are going in the right direction.

"I still deny (Rotary is a UBP mouthpiece), but I would rather let sleeping dogs lie."

Sen Burch made the accusation because he said the number of UBP speakers vastly outnumbered those from Government.

Mr. Cowen hit back that the organisation had tried unsuccessfully to get Government ministers, although Ms Webb strongly denied his claim that she had been asked to speak but had not taken up the offer.