of dollars on the National Sports Centre project.

Nelson Bascome said expert Bermudian consultants should have been used years ago to prevent costly teething troubles at the National Stadium.

And he said the projected cost of the complex -- now up to $40 million -- represented "a dreadful waste'' and was "far too high''.

Mr. Bascome said the project's backers could have saved millions by making sure initial building work was done correctly.

But he said Bermudian consultants were employed "much too late in the game'' to prevent millions being wasted.

Mr. Bascome was speaking after The Royal Gazette revealed the projected cost of the stadium had increased to more than four times the $9 million estimate four years ago.

He said: "A number of things were done wrong, right from the original contract.

"There were problems with the running track, the lighting and the seating.

"We in the Progressive Labour Party have pointed out the mistakes but the simple fact is that Bermudians should have been used years ago -- back in the mid-'80s -- to iron out these problems.

"They weren't even used for guidance until recently.'' He also claimed the project should have been phased, with the stadium completed before work began on the indoor sports complex and outdoor football and cricket pitches.

The old Bermuda College and Bermuda Technical Institute were demolished to make way for the new sports centre when Government provided trustees with new land.

But Mr. Bascome added: "If the PLP are elected to Government, we will make sure the project is phased.

"Too much was taken away from the community by trying to do everything at once. There has been too much bad planning and too much mismanagement.'' Sports Minister Tim Smith defended the higher estimated cost of the complex because the project included "newer, more ambitious plans''.

He said original designs did not include provisions for a recreational pool, hockey pitch or conference and cultural centre.

Plans for the northern sports fields, accommodating football, cricket and floodlights, were also recent additions, he added.

"The investment has increased but the scope of the project and the facilities has changed considerably,'' said Mr. Smith.

"The trustees have assembled a first class team of architects. There are Bermudian engineers involved now and the entire team is providing us with excellent value.''