A Government backbencher last night claimed a Government stalling tactic has been deployed to prevent changes to the law that would end discrimination against homosexuals.

But it remains unclear if such a ploy is now being played out to prevent any debate that would lead to a change in the Human Rights Act after a response from Government whip Ottiwell Simmons.

He said that, as far as he is concerned, a Human Rights Act amendment has only been deferred from this tomorrow?s House of Assembly business. He could not say what will happen to it in the future.

Former Tourism Minister Renee Webb emerged from a weekly meeting of the PLP parliamentary group convinced the Government now intends to keep putting a block on any attempt to update the law to make it illegal to discriminate against a person because of their sexual orientation.

An amendment to the Human Rights Act regarding harassment was due to be discussed tomorrow.

Although it made no mention of discrimination against homosexuals, Ms Webb intended to piggy-back onto it her own amendment which would then have forced a debate on the issue.

But with the item now being ?carried over? to a later date it means no debate can take place. Ms Webb told The Royal Gazette the Government?s intention was to keep carrying the item over from session to session until it ?falls off? the order paper.

By doing so it also effectively counters any attempt to bring a separate motion to change the Act.

Ms Webb said: ?My understanding is that it is not going to be debated. It is going to stay on the order paper until it falls off in July. It is frustrating. They are taking up all the other legislation but not this one.?

She feels it is an example of Bermudians having their full human rights denied by a political mechanism.

Community Affairs Minister Dale Butler, who brought the amendment act to protect against harassment at work, said last night: ?It is not going to be taken up this Friday due to the heavy legislative agenda. There are so many items on the agenda. I?m not in a position to say what is going to happen in the future.?

A packed agenda with 12 amendment acts ranging from legislative changes to motor cars, the selling of tobacco products and various investment laws, is scheduled to go ahead.

The Human Rights Amendment Act, which was listed second on the order of the day business when the House sat on Monday but was carried over, is to be carried over again.