WORKS & ENGINEERING Minister David Burch is under fire for failing to be open with the public over the awarding of Government contracts.

Opposition spokesman Jon Brunson went on the offensive after the Ministry refused to answer questions from this newspaper over the tendering process for the new police station and court building.

Ten days ago the asked a Ministry of Works & Engineering spokeswoman if a contract for the new facility had been awarded and if so, which companies had won the contract. The questions were e-mailed to Government's Department of Communication & Information on several occasions and backed up with telephone calls.

Yesterday afternoon the spokeswoman finally responded to our inquiry, saying: "As it relates to the police station/court building, the Ministry has declined to comment on this matter."

No explanation for the statement was given, despite the fact that work on the multi-million-dollar facility on the junction of Court Street and Church Street began yesterday.

The wanted to know which firms won the contract after printing allegations earlier this year that the tendering process was already a done deal.

In February this newspaper reported that Berkeley Secondary School building inspector Gabriel Martel was dismissed from his job with project manager Somers Construction after branding the site a death trap.

Mr. Martel alleged he was told by Somers Construction bosses that they were ordered to sack him by Government officials ? and that if they failed to do so the company would not win the contract to build the new Police Station.

Yesterday Mr. Brunson said: "There is a growing concern that this Government is refusing to be up front with the people of Bermuda.

"We need explanations as to how and why taxpayers' money is being spent.

"The questions that you asked were perfectly reasonable and they deserve to be answered. We are talking about millions of dollars in contracts and that's when we need transparency and fair play.

"We have suffered scandal after scandal after scandal with this Government and, in light of Mr. Martel's allegations, Government should be more forthcoming with information.

"Instead Government seems to be avoiding the question. Is it because they have something to hide? If not, surely they would answer the question. It's certainly understandable that people can't help but become suspicious."

Yesterday United Bermuda Party Senator E.T. (Bob) Richards also took aim at Sen. Burch after the Minister failed to give detailed replies to written questions from the Opposition on Clifton, the Premier's newly restored official residence.

"I have been given incomplete answers to all three questions," Sen. Richards said.

"It appears to be a deliberate attempt by Senator Burch not to answer fully the questions. This is not good for the democratic process."