Corporation for giving hand-outs to well-off civil servants.

Coreen Tucker of the National Tenants and Future Homeowners Association (NTFHA) said BHC's management style was "ludicrous'' after The Royal Gazette highlighted that the Corporation had rented out a home to a top-ranking police officer at a knock-down rate.

Last Monday, Superintendent Victor G. Richmond won a Supreme Court appeal staving off his displacement from a Gov ernment property he has rented for 26 years.

But Ms Tucker said: "I find it ludicrous that an officer no doubt making well in excess of $50,000 is still in Government housing.'' "This is so typical of Bermuda Housing's mismanagement, and this court case signifies that type of thing has been going on for 26 years.

"There should never have been a court case wasting taxpayer's money because he shouldn't have been allowed to be in that house all that time.

"And Government is still turning a blind eye and a deaf year to this issue of affordability.'' Supt. Richmond paid $870 a month for the Devonshire home under a 1993 lease.

In September 1996 the Corporation wanted to carry out renovations to the premises and served him with a notice to quit by February 28, 1997.

But a new lease after renovations would increase the rent to $1,650 per month plus $150 per month maintenance charges.

The matter returns to Magistrates' Court on August 28, after the policeman successfully appealed the Senior Magistrate's order against him for possession of the property.

POLICE POL