Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott yesterday confirmed reports that Dale Young is being considered, with about half a dozen others, for a position on the board of directors of the Bermuda Land Development Company.

And, in a statement submitted by the Government Information Services, he denied rumours that her name had been submitted and withdrawn when allegations of corruption at the Bermuda Housing Corporation surfaced.

Mrs. Young is a close friend of Premier Jennifer Smith and the wife of Paul Young, a contractor linked to allegations of kickbacks and inflated contracts at the Corporation.

"We are casting a wide net," Mr. Scott said. "This is just for the board, not for a position within the actual company. We have consulted with former Minister Terry Lister and we are working at ways we can introduce new talent into the BLDC organisation."

He said that he is meeting with the board today to discuss `possible changes, if any'.

"It would be true to say that we have canvassed to see if they want to be part of the organisation. Mrs. Young was one of the names that we were considering as a potential director on the board. However she was only one of about half a dozen individuals."

The Minister also pointed out that, while he reports to the Premier, he is solely responsible for appointments made.

"Minister Scott said he is carefully considering encouraging the birectors to contemplate restructuring and redirection of some of the initiatives of the BLDC," the statement continued. "However, he would await the receipt of their business plan, operating and capital budgets."