hi-tech electronic commerce continued yesterday.

Shadow Finance Minister Eugene Cox said Government Ministers had "completely misunderstood'' his comments on e-commerce and its potential effects on a probe by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development into "harmful tax regimes'' -- a net the Island could be caught up in.

And a former Finance Ministry official now running for the PLP claimed "poor accounting'' by the Tourism Ministry had resulted in $1 million being paid to European agents.

Mr. Cox slammed suggestions by Finance Minister Grant Gibbons and Development and Opportunity Minister Jerome Dill that he was unfamiliar with the industry the UBP is promoting as the third pillar of the Island's economy, alongside international business.

Mr. Cox said he was a director of Through Transport (BDA) Mutual Insurance, linked with the Society of Worldwide Interbank Financial Transactions to create a joint venture to sell through e-commerce.

He added: "If Dr. Gibbons had simply taken the time to research his facts prior to passing comment, he and his party would not be in the embarrassing position they now are.'' And he added that he made no apology for saying that the PLP "considers it prudent to adopt a very conservative stance in terms of the management of sectors of our economy'' -- especially in light of the OECD probe into tax havens.

Mr. Cox said: "That is why, given the reported comments made by one businessman with regard to the use of the Internet to `lure just about anyone from Siberian shoemakers to Australian sheep farmers to Bermuda by allowing them to avoid corporate taxes back home' we sounded a cautionary note.'' Dr. Gibbons earlier this week said it was "unfortunate'' the Bermuda-based firm had chosen such a time to make a statement like that -- but said Government could not control the expression of opinion by businesspeople.

Mr. Cox -- who has up until recently refused to comment on the OECD probe to The Royal Gazette -- claimed the PLP had "repeatedly'' called on the outgoing Government to "formulate a bi-partisan plan in order to stave off the OECD directive''.

St. George's North candidate Deleay Robinson, a former Finance Ministry official, said Government had relied "on what it could get away with'' because most members of the public did not read reports by the official Auditor.

He added a 1994 Auditor's report had made 16 recommendations -- added to 57 which had come out of prior audits which had not been addressed.

Mr. Robinson claimed "very poor'' accounting in Tourism meant $1 million had been handed over to agents carrying out European business.

And he said the millions of dollars in uncollected taxes accounted for why Government had to go for "high interest, short term loans month on month.'' Mr. Robinson added that there were problems with pension funds as well.

And he said: "Our problems are not five-year problems -- it's generational problems. It will take us a generation to fix these problems in this Country, particularly on the social side of things.'' And he insisted: "The often-touted financial genius of the UBP needs to be taken down a peg or two.'' Party leader Jennifer Smith backed claims for a non-party approach to the Island's problems: "We believe in inclusion -- what we have to do is what we want done for ourselves. I want to set the example for how Governments treat the Opposition.'' TAXES TAX