Government has no regrets over its award of the new senior secondary school contract to Pro-Active Management Systems, Premier Alex Scott made clear on Monday night.

?We?ve encouraged all to participate in entrepreneurial opportunities with a change in the tendering process,? Mr. Scott told delegates at the Progressive Labour Party?s annual conference.

?We?ve taken a lot of stick ? and I don?t mind, it goes with this job ? for what?s happening at the new senior secondary school, but what?s happening at the new senior secondary school wouldn?t have happened if they hadn?t have gotten a chance ? if the tendering process had not at least given an opportunity to young, yes let?s say it, black, companies.

?Are we afraid to do it again? No. Are we afraid to do it again? No. Are we going to do it again? Yes,? he said to applause.

Government terminated Pro-Active?s contract at the end of this summer citing concerns that the project would not be completed by an agreed revised deadline.

The decision was almost as controversial as the original decision to award the contract. And a claim of wrongful termination by the contractor is now heading to arbitration.

Mr. Scott?s comments came at the end of a listing of some of the achievements of the Progressive Labour Party Government.

Besides changes to the tendering process, he highlighted ?improved democratisation of the electoral process? with constitutional amendments that ushered in single seat constituencies, the abolition of annual voter registration and the creation of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Mr. Scott also pointed out that the PLP had grappled with the issue of long term residents, and introduced work permit term limits.

And, he said, Government had ?crafted the changes in our educational philosophy to make it the BEST (Bermuda Education Strategy Team).?