controversy after allegedly pledging union cash to fund the expenses of overseas students flying home to vote.

For it is understood that the students were asked to tell Bermuda Industrial Union officials which political parties they will be voting for.

Mr. Burgess, contacted late last night, confirmed the union was looking to help the students but said he was unaware they were being asked about their voting intentions.

A group of Bermudian students in Halifax, Nova Scotia, booked 80 seats on a charter flight to bring them home on Sunday.

And, after making an appeal for donations on radio earlier this week, the cash-strapped youngsters claim they were approached directly by Mr. Burgess who said that the Union would help reimburse the cost of the flight. Each ticket costs about Cnd $560.

A BIU official later asked the students to provide the union with a list of names of those coming home -- along with details of which constituency and party they will be voting for.

Renalda Bean, a student at St. Mary's University in Halifax who organised the flight, said: "We did this interview on the radio making an appeal for donations. Then Derrick Burgess contacted one of my colleagues and so I then phoned the BIU.

"I didn't speak to Mr. Burgess but I did speak to a secretary who said I was to get the names and numbers of the people who are coming on the flight and also their party affiliation and constituency.

"I've no idea why Mr. Burgess wants to know the way people are going to vote.

But so far I have a list of about 13 names who have contacted me saying they will be on the flight -- and none of them have said which party they will be voting for.'' Mr. Burgess, who is fighting to retain his seat in Hamilton East, said: "The union is looking to see what we can do to assist the students, but I have not spoken to (Mr. Bean) and I do not believe anyone from the union would ask about voting intentions. But I will be looking into the matter.'' Charter flights linked to vote But when UBP campaign chairman Mike Winfield was contacted, he expressed outrage and disgust.

And he implied the union leader might want to know the political persuasion of each student in order to bar UBP supporters from being reimbursed.

"Why are they asking for party affiliation?'' he said.

"It is ethically and morally wrong for an institution that, at least in theory, represents all of its members, to be promising students the reimbursement of tickets bought to return to the Island to vote, based on their name, constituency and party affiliation.

"The BIU has members who are supporters of all parties and I'm sure that the members would be outraged that there was ever a suggestion of this sort. "The fact the President of the union, as a member of the PLP and Parliamentary candidate, could suggest that he's using his members funds for his own political affiliation, something that the members will take seriously.'' Earlier this week a plan to bring home Bermudian students based in America, which had been organised but not funded by the PLP, had to be scrapped because of a lack of donations.

PLP candidate David Burch, who organised the pick-up, insisted that students were not asked how they intended to vote. Instead, he said the flight had been arranged simply to give students the chance to vote, regardless of their political affiliation.

Charter flights linked to vote contacted, he expressed outrage and disgust.

And he implied the union leader might want to know the political persuasion of each student in order to bar UBP supporters from being reimbursed.

"Why are they asking for party affiliation?'' he said.

"It is ethically and morally wrong for an institution that, at least in theory, represents all of its members, to be promising students the reimbursement of tickets bought to return to the Island to vote, based on their name, constituency and party affiliation.

"The BIU has members who are supporters of all parties and I'm sure that the members would be outraged that there was ever a suggestion of this sort. "The fact the President of the union, as a member of the PLP and Parliamentary candidate, could suggest that he's using his members funds for his own political affiliation, something that the members will take seriously.'' Earlier this week a plan to bring home Bermudian students based in America, which had been organised but not funded by the PLP, had to be scrapped because of a lack of donations.

PLP candidate David Burch, who organised the pick-up, insisted that students were not asked how they intended to vote. Instead, he said the flight had been arranged simply to give students the chance to vote, regardless of their political affiliation.

AIRPORT FLY