A Royal Commission into the investigation of alleged corruption in the Bermuda Housing Corporation would be a waste of tax payers money according to the Minister of Housing.

Senator David Burch said. "I think it is a stupid idea. I cannot imagine what a Royal Commission is going to find that the Scotland Yard did not.

"The call for a Royal Commission is just politics."

Opposition leader Michael Dunkley's call for a Royal Commission came after The Royal Gazette's sister paper The Mid-Ocean News ran a story from a leaked Police dossier centring on allegations of corruption at the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

The documents reportedly revealed that Premier Ewart Brown, former Premier Jennifer Smith and former Ministers Nelson Bascome, Renee Webb and Arthur Hodgson were all investigated by fraud squad officers looking into the BHC allegations. When the investigation finished in 2004, then acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Kulandra Ratneser, said many of those investigated could only be accused of bad ethics.

As of press time an online petition for a Royal Commission, started by the All Bermuda Congress, had 1596 signatures.

Sen. Burch unveiled the new management team of the BHC yesterday and said: "The Bermuda Housing Corporation of 2007 bears no resemblance to that of 2001."

He also pointed out that the Auditor General has given the organisation a clean bill of financial health for the last three years and commended the BHC for being one of only nine Government organisations to issue audited financial statements on time last year.

He also announced that Major Glenn Brangman is now the General Manager of BHC while Major Barret Dill is the Deputy General Manager.

Both Maj. Brangman and Maj. Dill served in the Bermuda Regiment for decades and both received the Efficiency Decoration and the Efficiency Medal - only three people have received both honours. Sen. Burch said: The first thing clients of BHC notice about these gentlemen is their willingness to go the extra mile in serving their needs.

"You will now find a more caring atmosphere at BHC."

He applauded Maj. Brangman - who has been acting General Manager since April 2006 - for relocating 56 squatters from Club Med to the refurbished Wyndham staff quarters and for preparing the Pembroke Rest Home to become an emergency housing facility.

And said Maj. Dill has been running the Hustle Truck operation which has seen 200 unemployed people work renovating BHC properties to tasks at other community, senior and charitable groups.

He also announced Blake Lambert, who holds a Bachelor in Architecture, was hired as an assistant project manager and Keino Furbert-Jacobs, who also holds a Bachelor in Architecture, was hired as a project manager. Both men are working on completing the Loughlands, Perimeter Land and Harbour View Village developments.

Sen Burch said: "I am confident that the BHC team can deliver on our mandate and the people of this country can look forward to a professional, compassionate and run organisation to serve their needs."