Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess yesterday accused Opposition Senator Michael Dunkley of criticising the new Police and court building out of "ignorance or malice" and because of a "warped imagination".

But his remarks were struck from the official record of the House of Assembly after UBP MP John Barritt complained that they were inappropriate.

Mr. Burgess was delivering a statement to MPs about progress on the new $70 million building on the corner of Church, Court and Victoria streets.

He said he was particularly happy to announce that a roof wetting ceremony would take place on Monday at 12.45 p.m., marking the fact that 99 percent of the steel structure, reinforcing, external and internal walls and roofing is complete.

"Monday's roof wetting ceremony will symbolise the tremendous progress that has been made since construction began in January 2008, despite the unfounded criticism, the malicious and nonsensical allegations about the project that have been made incessantly by certain naysayers in the community," said the Minister.

He added that The Royal Gazette ran a story last week, quoting Sen. Dunkley as saying: "And now we are in the middle of what could be the biggest fiasco of all — the Police and court building."

Mr. Burgess said yesterday: "It is my submission that the biggest fiasco of all is the fact that the Opposition member in another place could make such an irresponsible and inflammatory remark. One that, if reported accurately, clearly emerges from a position of ignorance or malice.

"I say ignorance or malice as at no point has that member requested information from me or my permanent secretary about any aspect of the project. His statement would appear to be based upon his warped imagination."

Mr. Barritt objected to the suggestion that the comments were made due to malice or to inflame.

Speaker Stanley Lowe agreed later that the words "malice" and "warped" would be struck from the official record as although they were not offensive to anyone in the House, they did refer to another member of the Legislature.

"It's a little more parliamentary if we have it taken out," said Mr. Lowe.

Sen. Dunkley told this newspaper last night that he was simply trying to do his job as an Opposition politician to get the best for the people of Bermuda.

"To me and my colleagues and many people in the community, the project got off to a bad start and the [cost of the project] escalated," he said, adding that when he recently visited the site it appeared to be "back on track".

The Shadow Public Safety Minister said: "Minister Burgess is my friend, but at times we will disagree on matters and it is only right that we air those differences to help improve matters."

Mr. Burgess told the House that the project would be completed within the $78 million budget approved by the Legislature.

He said Hamilton Police Station and five new magistrates' courts, along with support offices, would be based in the larger north building.

The sixth floor of the north building will house the Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and e-Commerce headquarters, as well as the Ministry of Environment and Sports HQ and the Department of Youth, Sports and Recreation.

Court services and other court/Police offices will be on the first three floors of the south building, with the Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation HQ and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs on the fourth floor.

Mr. Burgess said when the building was finished it would save Government some $12 million it currently pays in rent for private accommodation.