The row between a hotel boss and the Opposition intensified last night, with the resort chairman hinting at possible legal action. John Jefferis, chairman of Coco Reef Resorts, had already hit back at United Bermuda Party claims taxpayers had been left to shell out thousands of dollars to pay utility bills at the privately-run Paget hotel.

He said the lease struck with owners Bermuda College clearly stated Coco Reef was responsible for all utilities, and he said Opposition claims suggesting otherwise were ?blatantly untrue?.

Mr. Jefferis confirmed $281,000 had been paid in electricity charges ? and said it was time the Opposition stopped using his resort as a ?political football?. After the UBP raised questions about training provisions in the lease, Mr. Jefferis said it contained a ?five point irrevocable addendum? regarding Coco Reef?s obligation to provide the College training facilities.

But, despite Mr. Jefferis? assurances, Opposition leader Grant Gibbons stuck to his guns and called on Coco Reef management to ?come clean? and provide taxpayers with full details on utility charges. He said it was not clear when the $281,000 was paid or whether it fully covered the amount the College had picked up on the resort?s behalf.

And the row rumbled on last night as Mr. Jefferis responded to this by saying he was still waiting for a UBP apology on the issue. He said: ?We are still awaiting an apology from the Opposition Leader and his cohort, Shadow Minister of Education Neville Darrell, for clearly misleading the public regarding the training component of the Coco Reef lease and who pays the electricity bill for the hotel.

?We know that it is most unusual for them to admit they were wrong, but their waffling, contradictory response in yesterday?s newspaper was laughable.?

And he warned: ?A heartfelt apology would help to re-establish at least some of their credibility. It would be far better they do this promptly, than for us to take the more unseemly route as suggested by our legal advisors.?

However Dr. Gibbons fired back: ?The Opposition continues to encourage Senator Rayond Tannock (chairman of the Bermuda College board), to fully answer the original questions we raised concerning the College paying the utilities bills of Coco Reef.

?To date, he has not done so. If the College releases detailed information about metering, accurate allocation of utilities costs and Coco Reef?s payment schedule that proves the taxpayer has not paid a penny of Coco Reef?s utilities, we will be happy to admit we were wrong.?

And he added: ?If Coco Reef has been providing training to Bermudians under the lease addendum, the management should provide names of the Bermudians trained and positions they hold.

He said it was the Opposition?s job to raise legitimate questions about the use of taxpayer dollars.was unable to contact Sen. Tannock yesterday, and Bermuda College directed our questions to him.

But Mr. Jefferis said: ?We have already said we have paid the bills. We do not know what more there is to say.?

He added that the bills were paid over a long period of time and not settled in the last week. He also said the hotel had a strong training component. ?Lots of people have come through our doors to be trained,? he added.