Tape recording of court proceedings took a step forward yesterday when MPs unanimously passed the Evidence Amendment Act.

Attorney General Dame Lois Browne Evans told the House of Assembly the system had been purchased from the United States and will be operational when Chief Justice Austin Ward posts a notice in the Official Gazette.

The system has been warmly welcomed by Bermuda Bar Association and will mean lawyers no longer need to rely on the scribbled notes of the trial judge as the official court record.

"Bermuda has an aversion to coming into the modern age and has to be dragged kicking and screaming,'' she said.

"Courts and judges can finally rest assured that they will see electronic recording of evidence and won't have to rely on the handwritten squiggles of the learned judges.

"This has been the case in several countries and will be much better for the lawyers and the cause of the accused person.'' The system will be piloted in Supreme Court three, with phase two being the judges' chambers, Sessions House, and the Magistrates Court, she said.

According to the explanatory memorendum of the Act, the new system is for audio recording and provisions are being drafted to also include video recordings.

Although the Opposition supported the measure to add electronic court reporting Shadow Legislative Affairs Minister John Barritt blasted Government for taking so long to put the system in place.

And questions were raised with regard to the fees to be attached to obtaining the new, more detailed and accurate records.

Mr. Barritt pointed out that the schedule attached to the amendment set out a cost of $10 per page for printed records from the Court of Appeal.

"Are there going to be any charges with regard to records from Magistrates' court.'' he asked.

Mr. Barritt said changes should be attached particularly for civil matters.

"I don't think we ought to sell ourselves short here. We're doing the right thing but someone has to pay for it and it shouldn't be the taxpayers,'' he said.

Dame Lois replied that fees would be determined by the Chief Justice Austin Ward and would be published in the Official Gazette once they were approved.

And she added, in light of the cost of construction of the new court building at the corner of Court and Victoria streets, the fees would be changing.