Businesses on land earmarked for the 200-home Southside scheme still haven?t moved just weeks before the project is to start.

They say they were promised alternative accommodation months ago but nothing has happened with work set to start on January 1 at Marginal Wharf, St David?s, threatening the livelihood of 35 businesses and around 100 employees.

The site is going to be used for 196 homes ? half of which will be sold at a cut price of $200,000 with the rest going at market rate.

Jim Anthony of food distributors Amber Fisheries said he had been on the site for five years and had invested thousands of dollars in freezers but now didn?t know where he stood with the deadline approaching.

He said: ?What?s going on down here is unbelievable.?

He said ten months ago Bermuda Land Development Company (BLDC) had told businesses they had to move and suggested land over the road.

Businesses were surveyed to find out what their requirements were including square footage, yard space and voltage said Mr. Anthony but now BLDC were saying inquiries were being handled by Works and Engineering.

?I talked to the Permanent Secretary and he said it had nothing to do with Government and we should talk to BLDC but that wasn?t what they told me.?

He said he believed BLDC did not want to give notice to tenants until Government had paid for the land. Yesterday BLDC spokesman Richard Calderon could not be reached for comment.

Danny Pereira, owner of Southside Carpentry, said: ?We don?t know who?s in charge when it comes to the fiasco with the housing.

?They tell you you?ve got to leave but no-one?s given us a piece of paper, we don?t know who to contact. From what I understand from BLDC, Works and Engineering have taken it over.

?I don?t know what?s going on.?

Works and Engineering and Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent said all the businesses were on a month to month lease.

Asked about who?s responsibility it was to re-house the businesses he said: ?I am not sure if anyone?s really responsible, between us and the BDLC it?s not necessarily anyone?s responsibility. They had a month to month lease.

?If you are living in someone?s house and they want to use if for another reason is it that person?s responsibility to find you a house?

?If they are on a month to month lease it would indicate they are on shaky ground.?

But he said Government and BLDC would try to find somewhere for the businesses but it wouldn?t be easy.

He said BLDC owned the land but it would be transferred to Government who would hold the lease along with Bermuda Homes For People who are handling the building project.

He said the issue of compensation to BLDC was still be discussed.

Asked for his reaction to Mr. DeVent?s statement Mr. Pereira said: ?He?s saying they are going to put 30 businesses out of business? He?s not worried about 30 ness? He?s not worried about 30 businesses being displaced??

Mr. Pereira said he knew when he moved to the location in 1998 that it would be temporary and a survey had gone out a year later putting forward two other locations.

?We did all that but nothing has come through, they say it is still going to happen, I say I am still interested but it hasn?t happened. If they knock us down where will we put our business? We have not had a final letter, all we get is hearsay and what?s in the newspaper, no one wants to say, give us some direction. Say in six months you can move in or say it?s never going to be ready but let us know either way.

?There is no commercial real estate we can move into, we are caught between a rock and a hard place.?