Housing Minister Senator David Burch yesterday turned on critics who attacked him for threatening to use parliamentary privilege to name and shame people ripping off Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC).

He reiterated yesterday that he will put the names of individuals and companies he believes have cheated the corporation in the public domain "in those cases where a court case is unlikely to bear fruit and every other avenue has been exhausted".

Sen. Burch's threat last week to use parliamentary privilege drew criticism from Shadow Housing Minister Michael Dunkley and an editorial in The Royal Gazette.

He accused the United Bermuda Party of "hypocrisy" - saying it had been calling for transparency in the scandal yet now it wanted secrecy.

And the Minister said although some of his colleagues, whom he did not name, had been accused of wrong-doing over BHC, Government's position was "let the chips fall where they may".

He told Senate yesterday: "I have been amazed by the criticism from the other side at the efforts thus far at addressing the problems at BHC that were originally highlighted by them.

"Hypocritically, they now criticise the actions taken to address and solve the problems. One can only wonder about their true motivation.

"It is astounding to me - but not surprising - having had to endure Opposition members speak out of both sides of their mouths for four and a half years now, demanding transparency and receiving it.

"Their clarion call throughout this Government's tenure has been that we are not transparent - no need to elaborate on their definition of transparency - but in this particular case they want secrecy.

"I would only ask `why?' This is about balancing the people's right to know versus the rights of the few.

"I am well aware that the Opposition having characterised my eight month stewardship of the Ministry of Housing in a myriad of negatives - failure, grandstanding, electioneering and most recently balderdash.

"I, however, remain undaunted and am convinced that the actions taken thus far and planned ones are the correct actions to take - a view I might add which is shared by a significant percentage of the population - I undertake that as long as I am entrusted with this responsibility, we shall stay the course.

"The results speak for themselves - greater personal responsibility from our clients, improved operational efficiencies and increased revenue.

"Surely what the Bermudian taxpayers have been asking for is accountability. So for that, I plead guilty now and in advance, as there will be no let up on the current course.

"I do not need a lecture from the Opposition or The Royal Gazette on the responsibilities of parliamentary privilege. I recognise and fully respect the trust and responsibility that has been placed upon all of us who serve in this place and I am offended at the suggestion that I would take such a responsibility lightly or act frivolously. My record does not support such an assertion.

"I have been warned to be careful because some of my political colleagues have been accused of wrong-doing. Let me reiterate the policy of this Government - no one is above the law and in this regard and `let the chips fall where they may'.

"I fully understand that based on our history this is a foreign concept, nonetheless, in spite of how it will be characterised by others, this is our position."