Two jobs advertised since a new policy took effect have both come in lower than the Government estimate, assistant buildings manager Mr. James Tucker told The Royal Gazette .

"I think it's going to save a lot of money,'' Mr. Tucker said of the decision to advertise so that jobs costing more than $25,000 are open to all contractors, not just those on a Government-approved list.

But the new policy, which was promised in the United Bermuda Party's campaign Blueprint for the October election, was not mainly intended to save money, he said.

It was intended to be more fair and "open things up a bit''.

"In the community, there had been a perception that it was not as open as it could be,'' Works and Engineering Minister the Hon. Leonard Gibbons said of the tendering process. "This became a problem.

"Some people didn't want to go through the rigmarole of getting on the list.'' Most of the advertised jobs would be for painting, Mr. Tucker said. More than a dozen schools were due to be painted this summer.

While there were only about 15 painting contractors on the approved list, the number of painting contractors on the Island was closer to 50, Mr. Tucker said.

Interest was strong in the first two jobs advertised under the new policy, with one going to a contractor on the Government list, and one not. Both contracts went to the lowest bidder, and the prices were lower than what Works & Engineering estimated the jobs would cost.

There were 14 who bid to paint the clubhouse at Port Royal Golf Club. The winner was approved contractor Mr. Ivan Burgesson, who painted the Tynes Bay Incinerator. Seven contractors entered bids to paint the Gibb's Hill Lighthouse. The low bidder, Mr. Steven Ming, was not on the approved list.

Most contractors favoured the change, Mr. Tucker said.

"The guys on the approved list might be griping a little, but there are other people who now have a shot at Government work who didn't before. I think they are quite enthusiastic.'' An approved list would still be used for certain jobs, but it would be easier to get on the list, he said.

The Hon. Leonard Gibbons.