Housing Minister Sen. David Burch's statements that he will ask for no more money for the Bermuda Housing Corporation until its current problems have been cleared up are "cheap political tricks", Shadow Housing Minister Michael Dunkley said.

Mr. Dunkley said Sen. Burch's position "touched right on" with the public. "On first blush that appears like an honourable gesture."

But he said the BHC's Budget had tripled in the first four years of the Progressive Labour Party government and had received increases every year.

Mr. Dunkley said the BHC had had more money every year than the UBP appropriated in their last budget in 1998.

In the last UBP Budget, the yearly operating grant for the BHC was $1.58 million. That was revised to $1.97 million "after the Smith Government spends," said Mr. Dunkley.

And that cost increased every year until 2002/2003, when it reached $3.12 million. "It's a `spend and spend some more' and then `borrow to pay' fiasco," declared Mr. Dunkley. "But where are the results?

In addition, the loan to BHC from the Bermuda Government has gone from $29 million in 2000 to $45 million under the Smith Government, he said.

"Of course he (Sen. Burch) does not need more money! This is a cash cow," he said.

Mr Dunkley added that two of the senior BHC staff posts had not been filled after previous managers were removed, thus saving at least $150,000 for Government.

"That is a lot of salary saved so it is no wonder the Colonel (Sen. Burch) is bragging that he does not need additional funds," he said.

"Typical political tricks intended to fool the voter just before an election."