and Ewart Brown to be sacked or resign for allegedly misleading the House of Assembly over importing oversized ministerial cars.

The call came from Shadow Transport Minister Erwin Adderley who told the House Government that explanations about the how the controversial cars came to be on the Island were unbelievable.

Mr. Adderley went through detailed taped transcripts of the explanations given by Works and Engineering Minister Mr. Scott and Transport Minister Dr. Brown over the importation of three oversized Peugeot 406 cars for use by cabinet ministers.

After going through the chronology of statements, Mr. Adderely said: "From the foregoing, it is clear to me that the Minister of Works and Engineering has misled the House regarding the purchase of these additional oversized cars, and it is also clear to me that he and the Minister of Transport may have misled this honourable House as to the actions taken to permit these cars on Bermuda's roads.

"It is my strong opinion that this strikes at the heart of the integrity and credibility of these individuals and should result in their resignations of removal as ministers.'' Following the demand, Mr. Scott merely asked Mr. Adderley to table his speech so he could look at it, then the House was adjourned. Dr. Brown was not in the House.

Mr. Adderley said he listened to tape recordings of Government replies after Mr. Scott last week asked UBP MP C.V. (Jim) Woolridge to substantiate accusations that the minister lied to the House.

The controversy first surfaced in the House on December 17 when Mr. Adderley asked Mr. Scott if Government intended getting any cars for ministers who do not have cars.

Mr. Scott replied: "We aim to provide cars for those who need cars, however, this will not happen within the next year. We are buying them according to budget and need.'' By January 12 this year, however, one oversized car was imported and licensed for the road and the two others were licensed on March 31.

Mr. Adderley told the House last night: "This statement is clearly contradicted by subsequent events which show that between December 17 1999 when the statement was made and March 31 2000, three additional oversized cars were purchased to create what the minister describes as `a pool of up to five executive cars that can be used for the Premier, Cabinet ministers and for transporting visiting dignataries'.

"Therefore there can be no doubt that this minister misled the honourable House on this matter.'' Mr. Adderley translated a Latin quote as "If I catch you in a lie, how can I believe anything else you tell me.'' He later changed "lie'' to "mislead''.

Mr. Adderley said on December 17 he also asked Mr. Scott if any Government cars do not comply with size restrictions.

Adderley in call for ministers to resign Mr. Scott replied: "To my knowledge, all Government cars satisfy and meet the size requirements and if there are any exceptions I will certainly report back to the House to that effect.'' Mr. Adderely said last night: "There has been no such report even though I believe the Minister of Education's Rover 400 exceeds the size limit and was on the road before December 17, and even though the first Peugeot 406 was licensed on January 12 2000, a mere three weeks after the statement was made.

"Furthermore, when questioned, Mr. Scott replied that the cars were not purchased at the time of this statement.

"People who should know state that given the Christmas holiday period was involved that it would be virtually impossible to order a car and have it arrive in Bermuda and licensed to be on the road within a three week period.

"Time is further reduced by the fact that, if we are to believe the minister, the car was ordered after December 17, in the intervening period the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Works and Engineering also had to meet to decide that the importation of cars that exceed the size requirements is deemed to be in the public interest.

"Even though the Minister of Works and Engineering and the Minister of Transport and possibly the Attorney General had to consult and agree before these cars could be licensed, when asked, not one of the ministers or the Attorney General could cite the section of the Motor Car Act that had been amended to permit these cars.'' Dr. Brown made a statement to the House on June 2 intending to clear up the confusion and stated Government hadn't broken the law.

He said the cars were oversized, but there were provisions in the Motor Car Act 1951 to bring in larger cars for the Premier's use if the Minister of Transport, in consultation with the Minister for Works and Engineering, feeels it is in the public interest.

Alex Scott