OPPOSITION Deputy Leader Michael Dunkley ? the MP who first raised allegations of corruption in the BHC ? yesterday rejected the assertion of Premier Alex Scott that it was time to draw a line under the BHC scandal.

He said it was down to the Premier to name and "root out" those in his Government guilty of unethical behaviour during the scandal.

"There is no point splitting hairs over what is illegal and what is unethical ? it all means there has been wrongdoing," Mr. Dunkley said.

"The fact is that the police, the DPP and the Auditor General have said that people in high places ? specifically people in the House of Assembly ? have done unethical things.

"Those strong comments "Those strong comments were made to send a very strong message to the Government that the ball is in their court.

"Now it's up to the Premier to make sure that he names and roots out anybody guilty of unethical behaviour.

"Certain press articles have suggested that we in the United Bermuda Party 'want blood'. That is not what this is about. The most important thing is that the BHC is put back on a solid footing, operating with proper procedures, so people with power don't walk in and cut deals. So far, there has been no assurance that that is the case."

Mr. Dunkley said the Premier's suggestion that it was time to put the BHC scandal behind us, when thousands of taxpayers' dollars had gone missing and questions remained unanswered, was "a slap in the face to every right-thinking Bermudian".

"We have the highest law enforcement officer in the land saying that people at the highest level of Government are unethical," Mr. Dunkley said.

"While the Police Commissioner is unwilling, or unable, to do anything about it, now the finger is pointing directly at the Premier.

"We in the UBP are calling on the Premier to do the honourable thing and call those people forward and demand their immediate resignation. If the Premier does not know who those people are, then he should contact the police and find out.

"This action would not be to appease the Opposition. This would be to show the Bermuda public they have a Government they can trust. Right now, that Government is labelled unethical. This would show the world that we are not a bunch of unethical people in Bermuda.

"Up until now, Bermuda has always been considered a first-class location for business and tourism. But that reputation has now been blown sky high.

"We in the UBP are calling for a full release of the police report, or if not, the release of the BHC report by the Auditor General. That report has never come out because, we were told, the police were investigating the matter.

"Now the police have closed that chapter, there is no reason we can't see the report to allow the community to have a fuller understanding of what happened. That is the only right thing to do.

"Thousands of dollars have gone missing in this scandal and have not been returned, despite the promises of the former Housing Minister David Burch that we would get it back. Bermuda can't continue to live like this. We have a reputation and a way of life to protect."

In October 2002, the then-Housing Minister Sen. David Burch said "substantial" amounts of money had been overpaid to contractors by the BHC and it was Government's intention to recover some of that money through the civil courts.

Mr. Dunkley said no taxpayers' money had apparently been recovered.

Premier Scott said yesterday that Col. Burch was still involved with the BHC, as a board member, and he believed that he was still pursuing overcharging contractors.