United Bermuda Party MP John Barritt last night called for an Auditor General investigation into Government's $800,000 municipalities review.

Mr. Barritt said the Office of the Speaker of the House has now confirmed Government is refusing to answer his Parliamentary Questions on the subject he first posed in February; responses were due by February 19.

He said the Speaker also rejected his bid to resubmit the questions, citing a House of Assembly rule prohibiting questions in the same session which the Government has already refused to answer.

"These were straightforward questions seeking details on a contract of great public interest," said Mr. Barritt in a statement. "They asked for the identities of the firms that submitted bids, their cost estimates as well as additional details about the winning bid, from proposed services to the estimated number of hours to complete the contract.

"The Government has given no reasons for refusing to answer our questions. Its refusal raises more questions about the integrity of the tender system for government contracts and the expenditure of public money. Under these circumstances, we have no other option but to call on the Auditor General to investigate the matter much as was done for government contracts involving the Berkeley Institute, Coco Reef and faith-based tourism, and much as the Auditor General is currently doing with respect to the construction of the new TCD offices and the Heritage Wharf at Dockyard.

"We make this call public and frame it in terms of a request, with awareness that the Auditor General is not subject to control of anyone under the Bermuda Constitution Order.

"We also make this call because we believe the public has a right to know about Government contracts that entail significant spending and especially when they connect to controversial matters such as the proposed takeover of the municipalities."

Mr. Barritt's questions were originally put to Health Minister Walter Roban, who was then in charge of the review.

He wants to know:

• The names and addresses of all the private firms that responded to a RFP (request for proposal) from the Bermuda Government for an $800,000 contract to carry out reform of the municipalities;

• Details of each of the proposals received in response to the RFP, including estimated costs;

• Details of the proposal submitted by the successful bidders — local law firm Attride-Stirling & Woloniecki and US-based attorneys McKenna Long & Aldridge — including the services to be provided, the total number of estimated hours to complete the review and the applicable hourly rates.