Government should release the Auditor General's reports on the Bermuda Housing Corporation before the elections, says the Opposition United Bermuda Party.

A statement released by MP Michael Dunkley called on “the Smith Government to release the auditor's report on the Bermuda Housing Corporation, as well as to release the annual report of the Bermuda Housing Corporation which was due out last September.”

“It is unfair to the people of Bermuda to be asked to vote in an important election without being given important information on areas of vital concern to the voters of this country: Housing and Government integrity,” the Opposition candidate said.

“It has been over a year since the auditor's report on the Bermuda Housing Corporation landed on the desk of Premier Jennifer Smith,” the statement continued.

“Since then we have had excuse after excuse for doing nothing to inform the people about what happened to their money and what happened to the housing that Bermudians so badly need, and who exactly is responsible.”

Auditor General Larry Dennis was asked by the Premier to conduct a special audit of the BHC when allegations of mismanagement and shady dealings surfaced last year.

Mr. Dennis submitted his report to the Premier, then Housing Minister Nelson Bascome, BHC chair Valerie Dill and the Commissioner of Police who ordered a criminal investigation.

It is understood that Cabinet Office now has a copy of the report but at the time both Housing Minister Nelson Bascome and Premier Jennifer Smith returned their copy of the report to the Auditor General.

The report could not be tabled in the House of Assembly because of the ongoing police investigation.

The Auditor General, not the Government, is responsible for tabling such reports in the House of Assembly.

But when contacted last night, Mr. Dunkley insisted that there was no legal reason why the Premier could not make it public now, especially since an election had been called.

“Clearly if these reports come out it could have a huge impact on the outcome of the election.”

I don't think anything (legal) is stopping the Premier from releasing it now. We're calling on the Premier to explain why she can't release it.”

He then acknowledged that releasing the report might be prejudicial to accused persons in the event of a trial.

But he said: “It's strange that the Premier could call an election with the biggest corruption investigation in the history of Bermuda shrouded in secrecy and without any charges laid or clarification by the Premier. To ask people to go to the polls with these questions unanswered is a recipe for disaster for the Government.”

Mr. Dennis would not comment explaining that it was election season and he did not want to get drawn into the political fray.

Mr. Dunkley reminded us that the PLP had chosen the “yardstick of accountability and transparency”.

“They've failed in every regard there. You don't have accountability because the reports are hidden,” he said.

“The electorate should be properly informed. You can't make proper decisions without information.

“That's a report card of the PLP Government and the UBP should win by default, if they don't produce it.

“You can't expect anyone to vote on a record that's being hidden because of a criminal investigation.”

Col. Burch and Premier Jennifer Smith are off the Island and unavailable for comment.