Claims of links between dirty money and drugs and UBP-supporting business puts Bermudian jobs at risk, Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Maxwell Burgess warned yesterday.

He was speaking after his PLP counterpart -- Alex Scott -- suggested big business "unwittingly'' became involved in the drugs trade through finance and importation.

But Mr. Burgess said: "That headline around the world puts Bermudian jobs and future jobs at risk.'' And he added: "If Alex Scott wishes to write a suicide note, so be it, but he should put his own name to it -- he must not and should not be allowed to put the name of every Bermudian at the end of that note.'' Mr. Burgess said that he felt "deep sadness'' over the allegations and challenged Mr. Scott to supply him with names -- if he had any -- and called on Mr. Scott to "drop out of the race.'' He added: "He has put us all at risk -- I don't know who was on their way to do business in Bermuda and said `I can't be part of a country which is governing itself like that'.'' But an unrepentant Mr. Scott fired back from an Alaska Hall press conference to defend his claims -- reported exclusively in The Royal Gazette -- that the UBP was linked to organised crime.

He told reporters at the PLP's final press conference before polling day: "We stand by the story. It is a long-held view of the PLP.'' The controversy overshadowed a PLP announcement that an Election Day hotline -- VOTE-PLP -- had been set up to help people whose names had been removed from the Parliamentary Register.

But the focus of the press conference remained fixed on the UBP's fierce criticisms of Mr. Scott's claim that Government was "too close'' to gangland bosses and drug barons.

Referring to yesterday's front page story, Mr. Scott added: "The story ran consistent with at least two other presentations of that point.

UBP rains fury on Alex Scott "The whole thrust that's concerning the Government arose out of the observation by a Gazette reporter asking the difference between the approach to fighting crime and drugs of the Government and Opposition.

"Our view was simple. We are so positioned that we feel we can be more objective than the Government.'' The UBP replied that Mr. Scott had gone too far: "If irresponsibility was criminal, Alex Scott would be serving a life sentence'', said Mr. Burgess.

And he claimed: "This is a glowing example of the PLP's failure to understand what it takes and how it works -- local business or international business alike.

"That is what separates us, that's the difference between the UBP and the PLP.'' Finance Minister Grant Gibbons added he was "totally astounded'' by the "outrageous'' claims.

Dr. Gibbons said: "We've been at great pains over the last few years to establish and maintain the reputation of Bermuda as a credible and first-rate jurisdiction.'' He cited the work of the Bermuda Monetary Authority keeping tabs on business based in Bermuda and the anti-drug cash and money laundering Proceeds of Crime Act, as well as work at "many conferences and forums around the world.'' Dr. Gibbons said 13,000 jobs and $730 million poured into the Island last year alone depended on thriving international business.

He added: "We also know it's extremely competitive out there -- but this kind of irresponsible comment coming from the PLP make things much more difficult for us.'' Dr. Gibbons said that international financial watchdogs were already eyeing Bermuda with a view to compiling a hitlist of dodgy offshore jurisdictions and the European Union was conducting a similar probe into so-called tax havens.

He added: "Talk of international crime, money laundering and other illegal activities..these kind of statements play right into their hands.'' And he said the Island's lawyers, accountants and international business should be "very concerned'' about comments like Mr. Scott's.

UBP spokeswoman Pauline Richards added that women -- many of whom support families through working in international and local business -- owed their jobs to the stability of Bermuda.

And former Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness and UBP heavyweight Quinton Edness also weighed into the controversy.

He said: "I'm absolutely appalled by this man's ludicrous claims that the UBP are close to business people and therefore unable to deal with the drug problem.

"These are stupid imaginations -- it's criminal for a man to come out and say this about the UBP, its members and the business people of this community. We abhor criminals and criminality.'' And he called for Mr. Scott to be "kicked out of office.''