because one of his business associates won a major contract at the Sports Centre.

Shadow Sports Minister Nelson Bascome will today call for a Government inquiry after it was revealed stadium landscaper Robert Duffy has business ties with Mr. Lines.

Englishman Mr. Duffy was selected to work at the National Sports Centre for main contractor Johnston Sport Architecture after an advert appeared in The Royal Gazette last March.

Top businessman Mr. Lines, chairman of the sports centre's Board of Trustees, told The Royal Gazette he played no part in hiring Mr. Duffy.

He said Robert Johnston, managing director of Johnston Sport Architecture, hand-picked his own team of experts to build the $40 million sports complex at Roberts Avenue.

But the newspaper advertisement appealed for qualifications to be sent to the Board of Trustees and initial meetings for applicants were held at the offices of Millpoint Ltd., one of Mr. Lines' firms on Front Street.

The Royal Gazette has also learned that another of Mr. Lines' companies, Waterstreet Corporate Services Ltd., is the registered office for Mr. Duffy's business, Landscape Consultants Ltd.

And Mr. Lines, who is recovering from a heart attack, employs Mr. Duffy's wife Janice as an executive assistant.

Records at the Registrar of Companies also show Mrs. Duffy as the secretary for Landscape Consultants Ltd.

Mr. Bascome will raise the issue on the floor of the House of Assembly later today.

He said: "This is something which must be investigated by Government.

"I know that there are a few other contractors out there who are upset that Mr. Duffy was offered this job.

"That's why we must have an inquiry into this.'' Mr. Lines, who fell ill during a recent business trip to Hong Kong, said: "It certainly isn't favouritism in any way. The fact that one of my firms is a registered ofice for Landscape Consultants is neither here nor there.

"Yes, Mr. Duffy's wife works for me as an executive assistant at Millpoint.

But I had nothing at all to do with employing Mr. Duffy.

"He called up Robert Johnston when he was looking for partners. Mr. Johnston is the lead consultant and lead manager and I don't get involved in picking who he sub-contracts to at all.

"I happen to know simply by accident that Mr. Duffy gave some advice to Mr.

Johnston.

"It was free advice and after that, Mr. Johnston said he would like Bob Duffy to become part of his team.'' Mr. Duffy, of Jones Lane, Warwick, said: "My position is simple. I have been employed by Johnston Sport Architecture as a local landscape consultant.

"It is my job to assist their technical staff. I'm in no different position to any of the other local services who are also being employed as consultants to help the development team.'' He said he was "one of several applicants'' who responded to the newspaper advertisement.

And Mr. Duffy said he was interviewed by executives from Johnston Sport Architecture and National Sports Centre general manager Clifford Wade.

"Donald Lines was not involved,'' he said. "Obviously, I know Mr. Lines personally just as I know other people on the Board of Trustees but this is a small island and I have been here a long time.

"It's disappointing that something might be mentioned in Parliament about this before I have even been spoken to personally.'' Mr. Johnston spoke to The Royal Gazette from his office in Victoria, Canada.

He said: "Bob is a sub-consultant to us and he is under contract to us to provide landscape consulting services.

"That service is still being provided. He's in the same position as all the others who are sub-contracting directly to us.'' Nelson Bascome