Youth and Sport Minister Tim Smith will today clear top businessman Donald Lines of "any impropriety'' after a Government inquiry into the National Sports Centre.

Mr. Smith will make a statement in the House of Assembly after The Royal Gazette reported last week that stadium landscaper Robert Duffy had business ties with Sports Centre executive Mr. Lines.

The Minister will issue the statement in the House of Assembly after launching the investigation last Friday.

He told The Royal Gazette last night: "I cannot reveal exactly what I will be saying except that a ministerial statement will be made tomorrow in the House.

"As a consequence of the information I have received and reviewed, there is no basis to suggest impropriety.

"There are also some very important technical factors which I will outline to explain why I am able to come to that conclusion.'' Shadow Sports Minister Nelson Bascome called for the inquiry after it was revealed Mr. Duffy's wife worked for top businessman Mr. Lines.

Mr. Lines, chairman of the sports centre's Board of Trustees, said he had nothing to do with hiring Mr. Duffy.

He said the Englishman was chosen to work for main developer Johnston Sport Architecture after an advertisement appeared in The Royal Gazette last March.

But the newspaper discovered that Mr. Lines employed Mr. Duffy's wife Janice as an executive assistant.

Records at the Registrar of Companies also showed her as the secretary for Landscape Consultants Ltd., Mr. Duffy's firm.

And one of Mr. Lines' companies, Waterstreet Corporate Services Ltd., is also the registered office for Landscape Consultants.

The advertisement also appealed for qualifications to be sent to the Board of Trustees and said initial meetings would be held at the offices of Millpoint Ltd., another of Mr. Lines' firms on Front Street.

Mr. Bascome raised the issue on the floor of the House and told The Royal Gazette : "This is something which must be investigated by Government.'' Mr. Lines, who suffered a heart attack during a recent business trip to Hong Kong, said Mr. Johnston employed Mr. Duffy.

He said: "It certainly isn't favouritism in any way.

"Yes, Mr. Duffy's wife works for me as an executive officer at Millpoint. But I had nothing to do with employing Mr. Duffy.'' HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA