A business leader yesterday called on Government to clarify exactly what criteria were used in choosing the company that received the $70 million Berkeley School contract.

And Chamber of Commerce president Charles Gosling said tendering documents were "stretched, even altered" to allow the successful contractor, Pro-Active Management Systems Ltd., to make its bid.

Mr. Gosling voiced his opinion in a wide-ranging address to members of the Hamilton Rotary Club yesterday.

Meanwhile, he said Government's current proposal to associate with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was "important" - but called for further discussion of the issue.

Mr. Gosling said the Chamber had sent letters to Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott and Mr. Cox "asking in detail about the changes to possible qualifying factors as they pertain to the bidding process to quantify the expression 'Other Criteria' which seemed to be the determining factor in awarding this contract".

"The reasons given for selecting the successful bidder of the Berkeley School project are not to be found in the original tendering documents," he said. "In fact these documents have been stretched even altered to allow this firm to make its bid.

"Changes to the tendering process undertaken by Government should concern any company who does business with them."

Mr. Gosling said he felt Government should take confidence in their decision making, "allowing for a true commitment to be made with a full and documented explanation".

He continued: "Transparency of Government should allow the process, policies and operations of it to be easily seen not for it to be transparent."

And he said, while the letters to Mr. Scott and Mr. Cox had been re-sent, the Chamber had not yet received a reply.

Mr. Gosling said he thought proposals to associate with CARICOM were "as important a consideration as a European country joining the EEC".

He added that it would be "pointless" for Bermuda to become an associate member "without the ultimate intention of becoming a full member at a later date".

"This has to mean agreeing with the basic objectives of the organisation. Namely, to form a common market regime, with the freedom of movement of people, services and capital within the member states."

Mr. Gosling said he thought there should be "frank discussions" on the advantages and disadvantages of joining CARICOM and added that the Chamber had recently invited Premier Jennifer Smith to speak on the issue at a power breakfast.

"We hope she will accept this opportunity."