Concerns by Auditor General Larry Dennis that the Berkeley school project is behind schedule prompted Bermuda Industrial Union President to counter that the investigation had racial overtones.

A street poll by The Royal Gazette yesterday gauged mixed results among respondants, and divisions were not all along racial lines.

Many people said they did not know enough about the issue. Here are the views of those who did agree to speak.

Lynnelle Shakir, a black Bermudian corporate administrator said: "My boyfriend works on the project and he's been laid off twice since the project started, for a week at a time.

"One time over materials, one week something happened with pay.

"But the overtime is great, they get the union rate.

"It's behind schedule and I am concerned management is not being very forthcoming.

"If it's behind, it's behind and if it's not, it's not. Let's be honest and tell the people who are affected, those who work there now."

Black Bermudian banker Selena Burgess said: "I don't think it's racist at all for Larry Dennis to investigate.

"I think every job should have that to ensure it's going as it should and not wasting time and money.

"When was the last big job? CedarBridge? Was that audited and who did the contract? It should have been audited."

Black Bermudian Gloria Jean Trott said: "Maybe it has run into delays.

"That's no different from Westgate which overran maybe two to four years and went up in thousands of dollars.

"Nobody said anything about that under the UBP government.

"A lot of things came about not under the PLP."

A black Bermudian switchboard operator, aged 50, said: "I am not aware of the problem. I think they will be all right in the end.

"They should leave the politics out of it and let the builders build, just like you should separate church and state. Let Alex Scott do what he has to do.

"I have a daughter who goes to Berkeley but she comes out this year."

A white Bermudian receptionist, aged 65, said: "I think it's definitely behind and I think there's more to be told to people, it's our money. If it's behind, come clean with it.

"Mr. Dennis doesn't make a lot of rumours. I have a lot of respect for him."

"Why bring race into everything? It's ridiculous. If they are not doing the job, whether they are black, white, green or blue, then they are not doing the job. It's a cop out.

"I don't know where it will all end. I hope they will smarten up and get cracking so this might bring it out into the open, not more excuses.

"Let's not have an an overseas expert come in and tell us what to do. That will just cost more money.

"I think there is definitely something wrong to make all the rumours."

An English accountant in his 30s said: "I think it's right the public should know where there money is being spent and what is going on."