A gardener whose was paid over $5,500 a week by Bermuda Housing Corporation told The Royal Gazette yesterday he was "shocked" to see his name at the centre of controversy over massive pay-outs last week.

Although Caven Richardson was paid nearly $70,000 for three months' work on BHC projects, he said he didn't understand what people are so concerned about.

"Are they concerned about the quality of my work? Or the amount of work," Mr. Richardson asked The Royal Gazette. "Are they sure about what I've done?"

Mr. Richardson was one of three BHC contractors cited last week for collecting large paycheques amid allegations that corruption, double-billing and kickbacks were rife at BHC.

A housing corporation insider leaked documents to The Mid Ocean News which detailed payments of over $800,000 to painter Paul Young, and $487,193 to contractor Borden's Carpentry, were made between May and November of last year.

Mr. Richardson's $68,564 pay day for 12 weeks work also raised eyebrows.

The revelations and ongoing allegations of corruption from the Opposition UBP led Minister of Housing, Nelson Bascome and Premier Jennifer Smith, to call for a full investigation into BHC by Auditor General Larry Dennis.

Mr. Dennis was assembling a team yesterday to look into the allegations and told The Royal Gazette, should the investigators uncover any evidence of criminal wrongdoing the files will be passed on to the Attorney General's office.

The first among the contractors named in the spiralling controversy to break his silence, Mr. Richardson told The Royal Gazette yesterday he works independently and completed the BHC work alone.

"I never had other people working for me," he said.

Although not working on any housing corporation contracts at the moment, Mr. Richardson said he was always looking for more work.

"Basically there is a lot of work out there. Maybe some (gardeners) are getting work that doesn't pay as well, but they should be trying to get these jobs," he said.

"A lot of people can get work if they have this standard of work.

"Maybe they don't provide the quality of work I do. I don't know."

Mr. Richardson said at the moment he is very busy with "private" work and not working on any BHC jobs.

He told The Royal Gazette he was not overly concerned about the investigation into BHC operations.

"I feel like I don't have anything to hide," he said. "I just do my work."

He added that he certainly wasn't aware of any improprieties with the awarding of BHC contracts.

"I was shocked. Anyone would be shocked," he said when asked his reaction to news reports which revealed his BHC pay day.

When asked for details of the work he did for BHC, Mr. Richardson said The Royal Gazette's questions were taking too much of his time.

"Time is money," he said. "Time is money. Unless you have any work to send me this is time... Do you have work for me?"

He pointed out that any further time spent discussing the matter on his cell phone was costing him additional money.

"Should I be thinking of this as business or personal," he asked the reporter.

Meanwhile, the BHC officials maintained a blanket of silence over the allegations and swirling controversy.

BHC general manager Raymonde Dill once again failed to return telephone calls to The Royal Gazette seeking comment.

BHC board chairman Wentworth Christopher deferred questions, citing the investigation.

"A formal investigation has been initiated and I have every expectation of co-operating fully with that investigation, as a consequence of which, it would be inappropriate to comment publicly at this time," Mr. Christopher said.

When asked if there would be a BHC board meeting today, he replied: "I have no idea."