The troubled 198-home building project in Southside suffered a further blow after it was revealed that project manager Brian Rowlinson has left.

His departure from Bermuda Homes for People (BHP) means only project director John Gaston is still there after Cliff Schorer, who had the original concept for the not-for-profit scheme, resigned as project executive in March.

Yesterday Bermuda Homes for People director Richard Winchell put a brave face on the news as he noted the departure would save money.

He said: "We are an insolvent company and we are trying to figure out a way to get interim finances and control our expenses.

"Brian saw another opportunity. He's joined a building firm. But it isn't a good thing when people leave. Brian worked very, very closely with Government."

Mr. Winchell said there was no news on when or if landowners the Bermuda Land Development Company would take over the project.

In March Government announced BLDC would step in because BHP was insolvent. However the Bermuda Housing Corporation have also been approached to take it over as talks with BLDC dragged on.

The delay in finding new management has led to the postponement the employment of architects and engineers on the project while financiers don't want to get involved until a lease is signed for the land.

Work was originally supposed to start in January but was delayed because the business tenants on the site at Ship's Wharf had nowhere to go to.

Half of the homes were to be sold at market price and the other half would be sold at $199,000 to the winners of a lottery.

Last night Opposition Housing spokesman Wayne Furbert said of Mr. Rowlinson's departure: "It just shows that this project has come off the tracks.

"Mr. Rowlinson probably sees the writing on the wall. No one seems to be in charge. Government is not clear enough it its direction. No one knows what is going on. It is about time Government came clean.

"They built up people's hopes but it is another project which looks like it isn't going to work. Where does that leave the people who are supposed to go in the lottery on June 3?"

BHC were set to run that lottery. Yesterday BHC General Manager Vance Campbell did not return calls. Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent could not be reached for comment last night.