Senator Michael Fahy has claimed Opposition leader David Burt is attempting to “deceive the community” over the controversial airport redevelopment project.

Mr Burt has called on the Bermuda Government to publicly release the “lease, master assignment and consent agreement, and the domestic contract” in advance of the February 3 debate.

However, a spokeswoman for the Airport Redevelopment Project Team said today that the master assignment and consent agreement contemplated at the airport development agreement stage had been dispensed with early in the process in favour of a more streamlined contractual structure.

The spokeswoman added that the lease had not yet been finalised and remained in draft form.

“In any event, the lease is a fairly mechanical document by which the project company obtains access to the airport lands as required to operate and maintain it,” the spokeswoman added.

Mr Fahy, the Minister of Tourism, Transport and the Municipalities said this afternoon: “It is hard to imagine why Mr Burt would even suggest that the absence of these particular two documents should be cause to launch a protest aimed at thwarting Bermuda’s democratic process.

“It is clear that Mr Burt is attempting to deceive the community with his absurd stance to push his own narrow political agenda. It is frankly dangerous and unacceptable.”

Mr Burt said: “The Government’s criticism regarding the PLP’s insistence for the disclosure of the project agreement and applicable contract details is a poor attempt to distract from the fact that Bermudians remain in the dark about the details of the OBA’s Airport privatisation. Our reasonable and consistent view remains that MPs must be aware of the commitments of the Government of Bermuda over the next 30 years prior to any debate. We reiterate our position that the Auditor General should review this project in advance to provide MPs and the public with an independent assessment of the total impact that this 30-year airport privatisation will have on the public purse.”