The United Bermuda Party (UBP) has come under fire for repeatedly attacking the progress of the new secondary school building project - while failing to inquire about the sudden bankruptcy of a leading construction firm.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott addressed the House of Assembly on Friday and said the Opposition had made "vociferous criticisms" of the Berkeley site, and the management of it by general contractor Pro-Active Management Systems Ltd.

Yet, he said, when BermudaTech Construction went bust earlier this year, leaving the Spice Valley Middle School project unfinished, the UBP did not once ask searching questions during Parliament, or demand an account of the bankruptcy.

And he said he believed the Opposition had failed to raise the BermudaTech situation because the party had "publicly expressed support" of the construction company.

He said: "Therefore, maybe it is not remarkable that not one of the members opposite have asked from the floor of this House searching questions about, or publicly demanded an accounting of, the details of the bankruptcy of this company.

"The questions from the Opposition concerning the BermudaTech failure have been conspicuous by their absence.

"You may well ask `why the intense interest in the new second senior school project and a contractor, Pro-Active Management Systems Ltd,' that is doing so well. While there has been absolutely no publicly expressed concern about another school project managed by Works and Engineering where the contractor not only failed to complete his task, but was placed in the hands of the Receiver," Mr. Scott added.

"What is the difference between Pro-Active Management Systems Ltd and BermudaTech Construction Ltd? Enquiring minds want to know," he said, adding the Opposition should be asked to explain.

The Works and Engineering Ministry took over the Spice Valley project on March 1 after BermudaTech crumbled.

Mr. Scott said subcontractors already in place were kept on by Government, and DeCosta Construction was hired as the general contractor to finish the job. He said: "Work on the site is proceeding satisfactorily and the Ministry's goal is to complete all operational areas, classrooms, administrative spaces and support areas, by the original contract completion date of August 15, 2002.

"These spaces will be handed over to the Ministry of Education to enable it to make the necessary preparation for the start of the 2002-2003 school year."

He said other areas of work under contract, such as external works that do not impact on the school operation, will be completed shortly afterwards. Mr. Scott added: "Let me say that the Ministry of Works and Engineering has taken on the responsibility to review and make payments to the contractors.

"Basically, Government is using the balance of the funds in the BermudaTech's contracts to complete the work.

"It is at this juncture that I call upon the members opposite to put aside their partisan differences and come together and support these capital works that have to be deemed to be in the best interests of our children, no matter what the shade of one's politics."