Opposition Leader Mr. Walter Roberts.

Mr. Roberts said the writ the bank issued against him related to a personal loan and the failure of his Somerset Bridge Hotel.

He would not comment further.

The hotel was taken into receivership earlier this year for non-payment of banking debts. Besides Mr. Roberts' personal debt, the hotel was heavily in debt to the Bank of Bermuda.

Ms Janice Burns, senior manager for receivers Kempe and Whittle, said yesterday "final negotiations'' were continuing into the sale of the hotel. A buyer has been sought since January.

In an advertisement in The Royal Gazette , the Somerset Bridge was described as "situated in the parish of Sandys in a waterfront lot approximately 0.6 acres.'' The Bank of Butterfield suit appeared in the Supreme Court writs book in September with a figure of $229,615.53 quoted. A judgment for the same amount was recorded on October 19.

Earlier, lawsuits totalling $25,000 were taken out against the Somerset Bridge Hotel by National Liberal Party Leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell's store equipment firm and the Bermuda Electric Light Company.

Mr. Walter Roberts M.P.