The bill seeks to make the production, possession, importation, exportation and distribution of child pornography a criminal offence locally.

On Tuesday, the House noted that the bill attempts to put the burden of proof on the person who is accused to have breached the act. Prime Minister Bruce Golding has said the intentions were unreasonable.

"I don't know that it is fair to impose on any citizen such a burden," the prime minister said.

Unfair move

He told the House that it is unfair to impose certain obligation on citizens and punish them for failing to discharge that obligation.

"I am very worried about it. Let us look at it again," Golding said.

The bill proposes to hold adults who are found in possession of child pornography, or those who have seen child pornographic materials, accountable under the law. The House said the area was too grey and requested that the draftsmen do more work on the legislation.

Prior to suspending the debate, Golding, who piloted the bill in the House, said that advancement in technology has made it easier for persons to be involved in child pornography.

"Our laws have not kept pace with these developments," Golding said in relation to the proliferation of new technology which facilitates the practice.

In July when the Senate passed the bill, leader of government business in the Senate, Dorothy Lightbourne, defined child pornography as images of a child, a person under the age of 18 years, someone appearing to be a child, engaged in real or simulated explicit sexual activities.