Acting Opposition Leader Michael Dunkley believes the Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal is tarnishing the reputation of all politicians in Bermuda.

Mr. Dunkley, who as Shadow Housing Minister first revealed the scandal at the quango in the House of Assembly in March 2002, is pleased that the Police investigation is nearing completion but is concerned over public perceptions of the Island's elected representatives.

The Royal Gazette revealed last week that a number of Police files against a string of junior and senior figures involved in the housing scandal are understood to be either completed or nearing completion, and ready to be passed on to the Department Public Prosecutions.

Former and current Government figures have been under the finger of suspicion of the investigation, being conducted by a specialist seven-man team. Whether anyone will be charged will be decided by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser.

"It will not please me to see any individual coming to court," Mr. Dunkley told The Royal Gazette.

"In fact it disappoints me that anything like this could ever have taken place.

"First and foremost, this whole scandal reflects badly on Government, but it also reflects badly on all politicians. There are too many people in Bermuda, and perhaps in other countries, who have a perception of politicians as looking after their own interests - and this bothers me.

"It is time politicians shook off this reputation of being seen to talk out of both sides of their mouth. This whole saga casts a pall over all politicians.

"Jennifer Smith must be fully accountable because she was Premier at the time of the troubles, but this isn't about party politics.

"I don't care if this is about the UBP or the PLP, what's right is right and what is wrong is wrong."

The Royal Gazette revealed last week that Police officers working on the corruption investigation had travelled to London's Scotland Yard in the past few weeks to consult with senior fraud squad officers there ahead of any charges being brought.

Mr. Ratneser told The Royal Gazette that he was expecting files "very soon" and would be acting on them as "a matter of priority".

Mr. Dunkley, who was on the verge of breaking House of Assembly rules when he initially uncovered the scandal during a Budget debate on housing, admits he has been frustrated by the speed of the inquiry.

"I had been hoping for some movement earlier but you have to be patient with these things," he continued.

"It is the largest investigation of its kind in the history in Bermuda and it is a complex case. I realise it has not moved forward as quickly as I would have had hoped but we will get to the bottom of this eventually.

"There are questions to which we all want answers."