Government Minister David Burch yesterday dismissed claims there were dozens of safety failings at the new Berkeley Institute building.

He said when the full facts were made publicly known the "so-called whistle blowing foreign expert will be exposed".

Sen. Burch was speaking on national radio in wake of allegations by construction industry auditor Gabriel Martel.

He rebutted claims that the over-budget $120 million school project had been compromised by construction shortcuts and shoddy workmanship.

Speaking on his 'Bermuda Speaks' radio show on Hott 107.5FM, Sen. Burch promised answers to the accusations that first surfaced in a front page story in last Friday's Mid-Ocean News.

Under a headline "Death Trap" the weekly newspaper carried an extensive report based on claims from former Berkeley site supervisor Mr. Martel that the yet to open secondary school was suffering from poorly built walls, dangerous electrical wiring and compromised fire proofing.

Mr. Martel, who has 40 years experience in the construction industry, was reportedly dismissed by employer Somers Construction Limited last month after preparing his report on the state of the workmanship.

He has since returned to his home in Ontario, Canada.

Last night Sen. Burch said: "Much has been written about the new secondary school and its preparedness.

"Certainly we shall provide a full and frank explanation shortly, but I could not let this opportunity pass without a brief comment.

"Does any sane person in this country truly believe that this Progressive Labour Party Government could get the professional engineers, architects and builders in the Ministry of Works and Engineering and Housing, Argus Insurance, Somers Construction company, the Bermuda Fire Service, the Department of Planning and the multitude of tradesmen working on the site of the new secondary senior school to conspire with us to ignore health and safety concerns?"

And he asked: "And even if you believe that ? to what end? In the hopes that the thousands of people who are likely to utilise such a facility might not notice?"

"Get real ? those are our children, our family and friends that will populate this school and no-one in this Government, dare I say no one in this country, would be so reckless and foolish."

He added: "So I invite those who have so freely exercised themselves with such wild abandon over the last 24 hours to comment further when the full facts are known and the so-called whistle-blowing foreign expert is exposed ..."

Sen. Burch said that when the facts are revealed people will be able to "judge for themselves the quality of workmanship and the motivation for such accusations."

After the story broke last Friday, Sen. Burch told he would be open to any inspector carrying out safety checks on the building. His United Bermuda Party opposite number Jon Brunson responded by requesting Mr. Martel be brought back to the Island to substantiate his reported allegations to determine the truth.

As of last night had been unable to locate Mr. Martel to ask him to comment.