A Board of Inquiry investigating the Bermuda Telephone Company is to file a secret report to the Labour and Immigration Minister.

Maxwell Burgess will receive the top-level document into the firm's affairs within two weeks.

The Inquiry Board wrapped up its hearings on Friday, after four days of testimony from company officials and staff.

But both union representatives and BTC executives are being kept in the dark about the Board's findings until the report is filed to Mr. Burgess.

BTC came under the microscope for its labour relations and management practices during the four-day inquiry, which began last Tuesday.

The three-man Board, led by US industrial expert Dr. Dan Kruger, also examined why 14 white-collar workers were made redundant in early 1996.

The Royal Gazette revealed in April that BTC Chairman, Dr. James King, and American businesswoman Birute Adams made the job cuts despite contrary advice from original consultants.

But none of the managers could give evidence to the hearings because of legal restrictions.

The inquiry began with a day of arbitration to settle the four-day unofficial strike by 200 BTC workers in March. The action was triggered when the firm's bosses handed a two-day suspension to Vonda Burgess, accused of leaving her post.

Dr. Kruger, backed by Senate President Alf Oughton and former Cabinet Secretary Ken Richardson, banned unions and BTC officials from commenting until investigations were complete. The meetings at the Salvation Army Hall on North Street were also closed to the press and public.

BTC assistant vice-president Karla Lacey Minors said: "We don't know ourselves yet what has come out of the Board of Inquiry.'' Derrick Burgess, President of the Bermuda Industrial Union, added: "I thought the discussions went very well. I participated on behalf of the BIU but I can't go into specifics until after we get the results.''