Government has a "great deal of sympathy" for ProActive workers who were suddenly unemployed when it terminated the contract to build the new senior secondary school, Works Minister Ashfield DeVent said yesterday.

"Once the assessment is completed, we envisage a speedy and organised return of the workers to the sight (sic) and the completion of the school in the timeliest manner possible," the Minister is quoted as saying in a press statement from the Department of Communication and Information (DCI).

The statement repeats earlier statements that the project was well managed by Government.

"Mr. DeVent pointed out that in light of his Press conference on Friday, the public can see that the amount spent to-date is $64 million and not $110 million as claimed in recent statements by the Opposition," DCI reported.

"'The remaining funds in the contract will be used to complete the project and every effort will be made to achieve this," the Minister said, adding that the Opposition's recent claims of $150 million of cost overruns must be viewed in this context."

In actual fact the Opposition United Bermuda Party has claimed that the project could end up costing up to $150 million ? not that it will cost an additional $150 million.

The statement adds that in an August 12 letter ProActive Management Systems had informed Government that they could not meet the revised completion date of September 30.

"Instead they issued a new date of 21 December 2004 for substantive completion, meaning that the building will be ready for its intended use, and the 3rd February 2005 for completion of the punch list.

"Taking into account all of the factors regarding this project, including the Government's granting of a $13 million award to ProActive Management Systems Limited earlier in the year, the combined total of the breaches of the terms of the contract, numerous other shortcomings, and the recent further date extension to December 2004, the Government has decided that it is unacceptable to continue with ProActive Management Systems Limited at this stage."

"We would have been remiss in our duty not to terminate the contract at this point."

Mr. DeVent could not be reached for comment by press time last night.