Backbenchers last night seemed ready to approve an historic shake-up of Bermuda’s municipalities in Premier Ewart Brown’s likely last appearance in the House of Assembly.

The Corporations row took a twist late yesterday as Progressive Labour Party MP Ashfield DeVent — previously wary of a Government asset grab — declared he will vote in favour of the Municipalities Reform Act.

Mr. DeVent said the bill represents long overdue reform for an old white oligarchy — and is not simply a “Brown and DeSilva takeover” as many believe.

Others are said to oppose some aspects of the bill, and the way it’s been handled by the Premier and Minister without Portfolio Zane DeSilva, but may vote for it anyway as they might not get another chance to reform the two-century old establishment after Dr. Brown leaves.

However, former Premier Alex Scott said he remains against the initiative, and the final result may come down to how many PLP MPs are in the room when the vote takes place.

Mr. Scott is due to fly off the Island around lunch time while another said to be against the move, Dale Butler, is already overseas.

Mayor Charles Gosling, who says the bill will lead to “death by financial strangulation” for the Corporation of Hamilton, is banking on one or two backbenchers tilting the balance against it.

Terry Lister is said to have been very vocal in getting the discussion delayed in caucus two weeks ago, while Wayne Perinchief and Randy Horton both helped vote down one of the Premier’s bills earlier this year.

If nine United Bermuda Party MPs, three from Bermuda Democratic Alliance and Independent Darius Tucker all vote against it, the bill needs support from at least 14 of the PLP’s 23 MPs. But with Dame Jennifer Smith, Lovitta Foggo and Walter Lister also possibly away, and no vote for Speaker Stanley Lowe, the result is no formality.

Both Opposition parties yesterday called for the bill to be put on hold to allow more consultation; a rally, which could be swelled by Bermuda Public Services Union members, is due at the House in the early afternoon.

Mr.DeVent, the Pembroke South East MP, said several of his colleagues had been concerned about mooted plans before seeing the legislation Mr. DeSilva tabled last week. “I was cautious about it all before I got to read the act,” said Mr. DeVent, a critic of Dr. Brown who some thought would be prepared to vote against it.

”But now I have taken into consideration the history, and where we have come from, and also looking at other municipalities and how they are set up, I can see it’s certainly not a Brown/DeSilva takeover.

”I think it’s a pretty good piece of legislation that brings the Corporations up to date.

”I don’t think they did themselves any good by going on that outright attack and labelling it the Brown/DeSilva takeover. It’s not really a takeover. Dr. Brown will be gone anyway. He won’t be involved in making any decisions. We were all thinking it’s going to be this big takeover and assets would be seized and that’s not the case.”

Mr. Gosling argues the Corporation will be so badly hit losing $7.5 million a year in wharfage and port dues it will ultimately have no choice other than to be “rescued” by Government anyway.

The bill also updates the 1923 Municipalities Act by making the Corporations start paying land tax, abolishing the property vote and allowing any Hamilton or St. George’s resident is allowed to vote in local elections, and wiping out the municipal register.

Mr. DeVent said: “At the end of the day: 1923. Jeez. What else was happening in 1923? Where was the Country? Where were black people? What changes have we seen since 1923?

”They didn’t have TV, they didn’t have cars. Not too much is the same as 1923. Come on.”

Mr. Gosling says the Corporation put forward its own ideas of reform in October 2008 but Government has not taken them on board. He points to surveys showing most people don’t want a takeover.

But Mr. DeVent predicted many of today’s protesters would be people just keen to have another go at Dr. Brown. ”Those people are going to march because they’re simply anti-Brown or anti-PLP Government,” he said.

”They have a right to express their opinion but at the end of the day most of those people do not live in Hamilton.”

Mr. Scott said last night: ”I think I reflected my views. Most folks know I don’t support the initiative.”

Asked whether he’d vote against it, he replied: ”I have got to get to the House first,” explaining he had a prior engagement overseas.

Mr. DeSilva declined to comment yesterday but Dr. Brown said: “It is unfortunate that the resistance to reform has not been mounted on its merits but on the basis of who set out the vision to do it.

”The long suffering residents of the City of Hamilton deserve better than the snail’s pace at which their issues are addressed.”

Mr. Gosling said: ”I really think now is the time for all Parliamentarians to take several minutes and give this bill true consideration and just make a decision on what they feel is for the benefit of the two Corporations.

”Will the two Corporations be able to survive in their current form by reducing revenue by 40 percent and increasing expenditure?”

UBP leader Kim Swan said his party supports local government reform but believes the legislation would lead to Corporation job losses, and deterioration in street cleaning, garbage pickup, and parks and buildings maintenance.

”The act uses the word reform and it does contain clauses for better governance but we see its plans to strip assets and revenue from the city as poison pills that will permanently damage the city’s ability to operate,” he said.

”And so we see this legislation as dishonest. After all, what is the meaning of reform when the end game is the destruction of the entity you say you want to reform?”

BDA leader Craig Cannonier said his party would support the bill if concerns raised were tackled. He said BDA MPs would suggest amendments today which could eliminate fears it would strangle the Corporation.

He welcomed the expanding of the vote, adding: ”We are deeply concerned that residents of North Hamilton have not over the years received the services they deserve but at the same time why should property owners and businesses in North Hamilton’s EEZ be deprived of a vote when they have invested in North Hamilton?

”So we propose that in addition to all adult Bermudian residents, landlords and Bermudian business owners in the City should also get to vote but one vote only not one vote per business. The owner of property and businesses will receive only one vote no matter how many properties or businesses he owns, whether it be on Front Street or Curving Avenue.”

Yesterday it emerged the bill will likely go to the Senate if approved, as Attorney General Kim Wilson said it might not be a money bill after all, because it relates to matters other than just finance.

BPSU boss Armell Thomas said his members would decide if they will take part in today’s rally following a meeting at noon.