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BHC crisis 'isn't going to go away' - Michael Dunkley

Michael Dunkley

The men at the centre of corruption allegations at Bermuda Housing Corporation still have a lot to answer says Opposition Health spokesman Michael Dunkley.

Sacked general manager Raymonde Dill and painter Paul Young, who was paid more than $800,000 for a job, defended themselves in the press last week.

But Mr. Dunkley said there was a lot of missing information and the pair should be hauled before a commission of inquiry along with Housing minister Nelson Bascome and Transport Minister Ewart Brown who have been implicated.

Mr. Dill said Mr. Bascome had ordered him to give a $300,000 landscaping job to a company who had not tendered a bid and without it going to the board.

It was alleged work on the Southside affordable housing project was held up because Dr. Brown owed the contractor more than $400,000.

Mr. Dunkley said a commission of inquiry should investigate to remove the chance of political interference.

"All of those ministers should go and put their hand on the bible and say everything they know. Mr Dill is singing like a catbird."

But he said Mr. Dill had got it wrong by saying Government gave them two million pounds last year.

"It's $3.7 million. The general manager doesn't even know how much money is given by Government."

And he said Mr. Young could easily prove his claim that he paid a lot of employees out of the money given to him by producing payroll receipts.

Mr Dunkley said: "He can't do it."

He said vague statements by the Premier that she would speak to her ministers about the allegations weren't acceptable.

He said: "This isn't going to go away. They won't get cleared up by the minister."

Mr. Dunkley said Government had dragged its feet in rooting out the problems all along, first by denying they existed and then by silencing him in the House of Assembly.

He said: "The Deputy Speaker tried to stop me. I asked under which rule he said it was his own rule.

Mr. Dunkley said the Premier had promised the auditor's report would be made public but instead she had given it to the Police."