Shadow Home Affairs Minister Maxwell Burgess is facing eviction from his condominium for not paying maintenance fees, has learned.

Shareholders in the Somers Gardens Company are meeting next week to decide whether to evict the United Bermuda Party MP following a lengthy and frustrating battle to get the cash.

The company has already won an arbitration award in court to have Mr. Burgess kicked out of the home on Green Bay Road, Hamilton Parish, and shareholders in the 26-unit complex will decide next week whether to enforce that.

A letter to shareholders from the board of directors of Somers Gardens Company, obtained by states a legal battle to recover more than $33,000 ? including $18,000 in legal bills ? has been ongoing for more than two years

It states Mr. Burgess still owes $5,000 from January this year, but the company offered to drop the eviction threat if he agreed to pay all his outstanding costs and to meet his ongoing lease obligations.

"Mr. Burgess has not responded to our letters, has not paid his maintenance, has not paid his assessment, and has not paid the outstanding legal costs," states the letter.

"Therefore, we must conclude that Mr. Burgess has no intention of paying any further amounts owing unless forced to do so.

"There are several seniors living in the Somers Gardens complex who are either on fixed or reduced incomes who cannot absorb extra assessments to pay the legal fees incurred to force Mr. Burgess to pay his ongoing debts.

"These seniors all meet their obligations, and along with the other owners, are very angry that Mr. Burgess is acting in such an irresponsible and non-caring manner.

"A vote will, therefore, need to be taken on whether the company should pursue the arbitration award in court to have Mr. Burgess evicted from Unit 21.

"This, of course, will incur further legal expenses as Mr. Burgess has indicated through his lawyers that he will resist any action to have him evicted and the company take possession of the property.

"A decision will, therefore, have to be made on starting a legal fund with which to fight Mr. Burgess in court.

"Nobody can understand why Mr. Burgess is doing this. His lease is the same as all the owners in Somers Gardens and yet he is the only one who somehow believes he does not have to comply with his legal and moral obligations.

"This cannot continue, hence the reason for the special meeting to decide, once and for all, what action we need to take to avoid any future occurrences and expenses."

Ronald Viera, president of Somers Gardens, told yesterday: "It is unfortunate the matter has been leaked as we would have preferred it to remain a private matter.

"It has been a long, expensive and time-consuming process to get where we are and we feel we have no choice but to go to the other shareholders and make a final decision.

"We've lease obligations to meet. Something has to happen legislatively to make it easier for condominium complexes to collect maintenance fees."

The condominium is in the name of the BAM Trust but Mr. Burgess is the beneficiary.

Mr. Burgess could not be contacted for comment yesterday.