No punches were pulled in the House of Assembly as politicians scrapped over arrangements for the late David Allen's health care in his final days.

"I wish this was open to all Bermudians," said Shadow Legislative Affairs Minister John Barritt. "Are you deaf as well as blind? What are the people of this country talking about? Health insurance."

The Royal Gazette had reported anonymous sources as saying that Finance Minister Eugene Cox intervened to get Mr. Allen into the scheme at the last minute. MPs were given the option of joining the civil service Government Employee Health Insurance Scheme (GEHI) from March 2000. But Mr. Allen, who died of abdomen cancer, chose not to do so at the time.

When he fell seriously ill in August last year suffering from abdomen cancer - eventually being airlifted to Boston for treatment - Mr. Allen was allowed into the scheme. Sources reported that the decision caused some concern among the GEHI committee members and that its chair had threatened to resign.

"Are members of this country to understand that any member can join when he or she feels like it, when they need it and not make any contribution until they need it? That's not how insurance schemes work, that's not the real world."

Premier Jennifer Smith angrily denounced the UBP's allegations of wrongdoing. She argued that the questions had already been answered by the Accountant General, Kenneth Joaquin, after this newspaper first reported the allegations.

Mr. Joaquin said that nothing illegal or improper had been done and that enrolment in the scheme could not be influenced by the committee or the Finance Minister. He added that GEHI "was not an insurance scheme in the traditional sense" as it was governed by legislation and administered through the Accountant General's Department.

The Premier quoted directly from Mr. Joaquin's statement during yesterday's row.

"The allegation that that there was political influence is false," she said. "The allegation that the chair of the committee threatened to resign is equally false, and premiums will not increase as a result of late minister's enrolment. With all that information in the public domain, for members to seek to drag through the mud the name of a man who gave his life for this country is nothing less than scurrilous."

Auditor General Larry Dennis has written a report on the matter, but it is not known when it will be tabled in the House.