Opposition Leader Dr. Grant Gibbons last night called for an investigation, similar in size and scope to that underway on the Bermuda Housing Corporation, to look into management of the Berkeley senior school project.

Dr. Gibbons spoke out on behalf of UBP candidate Roger Russell, who has been accused over the past week of a politically motivated plot to destabilise the Government and the Berkeley project and of possibly illegal behaviour.

Speaking after the Motion to Adjourn last night, Dr. Gibbons said that since Minister Alex Scott raised the matter during last week's sitting of the House of Assembly he has heard an "entirely different account" of what took place between Mr. Russell and an unnamed Works and Engineering civil servant.

And this new information alleges serious mismanagement, impropriety and corruption at the $70-million project include falsification of documents and the redirection of labour and supplies from the project to the private homes of key staff, Dr. Gibbons said.

Minister for Works and Engineering Alex Scott raised the issue one week ago in a Ministerial statement before the House without naming Mr. Russell.

Last night, Dr. Gibbons said Mr. Scott had "used privileges of the House of Assembly to make public allegations of improper and possibly illegal behaviour".

He continued: "These allegations are serious and the accused individual is unable to use the same forum to respond.

"One week later, we have no evidence that (Mr. Scott's) allegations are true. Indeed, based on the same set of facts, his allegations have been reduced from stalking and blackmail in his first statement to the possible commission of a summary offence in today's statement."

Mr. Gibbons went on to say, to his knowledge, Mr. Scott had yet to make a formal complaint about the matter and the Police have not received a file from the Attorney General.

"Given the serious nature of the allegations, we believe that anything less than a prompt resolution of the matter suggests a deliberate and politically motivated delay in customary procedures," Dr. Gibbons said.

The Opposition leader also questioned the timing of the accusations last week in relation to the BHC scandal.

"Was the timing of the honourable Minister's statement intended to deflect attention from the Government's own problems or to intimidate those within the Civil Service who wish to expose possible wrongdoing or mismanagement," he asked.

"If the Berkeley senior school project is being managed properly and there is nothing to hide, how would the release of any documents `compromise or destabilise' the project, the Ministry of Works and Engineering, other Ministries and indeed, the entire Government, as the honourable Minister claimed?"

And he shared with the House part of an affidavit given by Mr. Russell on the matter.

"I feel it is only fair to the individual concerned to bring this new information to the House," he said

In the portion of the statement Dr. Gibbons read aloud, Mr. Russell denies stalking a Works and Engineering civil servant "or his wife or anybody for that matter" and claims the man approached him and repeatedly offered him information and documentation on project irregularities.

Dr. Gibbons said he would not read the entire statement but told the House it contained more detailed descriptions of conversations between the two men about impropriety and corruption on the senior school project.

The allegations include that documents were falsified and senior members of Government pressured civil servants to sign them and that both labour and materials were diverted from the Berkeley site to other job sites including the private homes of MPs and other key staff.

"The UBP candidate who made this sworn statement is prepared to cooperate fully with the authorities should an investigations take place," Dr. Gibbons continued.

And he urged Mr. Scott move "expeditiously" with his formal complaint so the proper authorities could deal with the matter.

An while Dr. Gibbons welcomed the Auditor General recently announced audit of the project, he said the seriousness of the allegations called for a BHC-style inquiry.

Dame Lois Browne-Evans clarified following Dr. Gibbons statement, that a file on the matter has been passed to the Attorney General's chambers which is awaiting the return of Solicitor General Wilhelm Bourne to the Island before moving forward.