As rumours continue to swirl over the Berkeley school construction project observers on both sides of the political divide say that Government's black economic empowerment agenda could be at the root of continuing controversy.

Political scientist Walton Brown however, is of the view that the ruling Progressive Labour Party (PLP) Government does not necessarily have a black economic empowerment agenda, but has set out to broaden economic opportunity.

And, he says, the latest controversy probably has more to do with money than party politics.

But, says political commentator Rolfe Commissiong, the United Bermuda Party (UBP) will be the loser if the latest allegations - made by Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott - of a politically motivated plot to "compromise" the project - are proven true.

Mr. Commissiong said the Berkeley project had been a "political football" from the very beginning.

"It will continue to be so until the last nail is driven into the project," he said.

Controversy first erupted when the $70 million contract to build the Island's second senior secondary school was awarded to Proactive Management Services which was at the time little known. The company beat out BermudaTech which has since gone bankrupt.

"They are challenging very powerful and entrenched interests in the country," Mr. Commissiong continued. "Proactive is a black dominated company which is relatively young not only in terms of the company but also in terms of the principals. It also happens that winning contractors in the past have strong ties to the United Bermuda Party (UBP). In that sort of environment it is understandable that the Opposition would attempt to unearth or make public anything they can capitalise on."

He added: "Any failure of this project in any major way will represent a failure of the Government which is black dominated, and a serious setback in terms of the economic empowerment initiative. And the school itself being a premier black learning institution for close to 100 years is a very powerful symbol.

"Even if half of his (Mr. Scott's) allegations are proven correct, it will prove detrimental to the individual and possibly end his political career. And there will also be collateral damage to the UBP."

UBP member Khalid Wasi does not think that his party will suffer that much collateral damage if the allegations are proven to be true.

The repercussions would be "probably quite significant" for the candidate. But he said: "I don't know if the party can be linked to that. This happens to be a case between two individuals - it seems to be a private matter, and if it happens to be a new member."

He added that the current controversy could not be compared to the ongoing probe into the Bermuda Housing Corporation where "many issues are being questioned".

Mr. Wasi is , however, keeping an open mind on the whole saga. Like other UBP members he points out that the Minister has made allegations in the past which have not been substantiated. And, he says, the word on the street is that the officer at the centre of the drama had made the initial contact because he had concerns about the Berkeley project.

"We don't know how this whole issue developed," he said.

"Regardless this is not a case which could bring the whole UBP down."

He agreed that the Government's black economic empowerment agenda has a lot to do with the Berkeley project becoming a political football. But the blame for that falls squarely on the Government, he said.

"Government should have been very clear on how they intend to bring about such economic empowerment so the community should have been brought into the process. But because it has been a covert attempt to bring about black economic empowerment, then the whole process of how its going about it is secretive and it leads the community to suspect all kinds of things," Mr. Wasi said.

"I would have wanted the same result but the process would have been far more open and far more inclusive and everybody would have been on board. Then we wouldn't have had the political football that Rolfe is talking about."

Mr. Wasi agreed that if the project fails it would represent a failure of Government.

"Absolutely and the other part of it is if the success of the project is not because of the frugality and efficiency of the company but rather because of the inter-involvement of key Government players who, in conflict of roles, help to make it a success, then it's not a reliable success. Because in that scenario, a company left alone may not survive."

"I'm not quite sure that I would agree the Government has a black economic empowerment agenda," Mr. Brown said.

"I think that the Government has been trying to ensure real economic opportunity for companies that did not get the opportunities in the past so the dominant players are not the only ones in the game."

As to the latest controversy, he couldn't make any specific comments. "But obviously this is a very sizeable project in terms of its value and any party which took the time out to put together a bid is likely to feel somewhat aggrieved. This is part and parcel of how human beings relate to failure. The fact that they (Pro-Active) got the contract has generated controversy from those who weren't successful."