The Bermuda Trade Union Congress has called on Government to address a series of questions about plans to partner with the Canadian Commercial Corporation on the airport redevelopment.

The union claims a non-binding memorandum of understanding concerning the project does not provide enough transparency and is questioning everything from Bermudian hirings to cost overruns.

It suggested that Government had not provided a sufficient distinction concerning the public-private partnership (P3) and whether it plans to privatise all aviation and airport services.

A BTUC spokeswoman said in a statement: “As taxpayers who have entrusted the Government to manage Bermuda’s assets and resources responsibly, we call on the Government, as soon as possible, to answer the following questions, so that further clarification can be provided on the redevelopment of the airport and Bermuda’s aviation services.

“The Government has promised to be transparent and, as such, we expect full disclosure and transparency through meaningful dialogue.”

The union inquired whether there would be a full public consultation, including information about whether the project should be publicly or privately funded and whether elected officials would be fully informed about alternatives.

BTUC asked whether the lifetime costs of delivering the airport through a public-private partnership had been calculated and compared to alternatives.

The statement questioned who would be responsible for cost overruns, as well as the impact on the local economy, workers’ jobs and small businesses.

The union asked whether Government had the capacity and resources to evaluate, administer and monitor such a contract and asked whether the P3 gives Government the flexibility to make future changes in service delivery or other public policy decisions.