And Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons asked if the Works and Engineering Ministry -- said to be holding cash to kick off the development -- had formally applied to the Finance Ministry to carry over cash from the current Budget, which runs out today.

Dr. Gibbons was speaking after Finance Minister Eugene Cox claimed his Shadow had mislead the public over claims that a massive $671,000 had not been carried over.

But Dr. Gibbons -- MP for Paget East -- said it was clear from the 1999/2000 Budget that the money had not been carried on.

Dr. Gibbons said: "If there had been an intention to carry it forward, I would have thought the Minister would have said something about it.

"Normally, if you carry money forward, you would show it -- it was unspent and to me it was pretty clear they had removed the money.'' And he added: "Major capital projects must have their own line item.'' Paget Post Office is listed under the Finance Ministry in the new Budget -- but the $671,000 estimated for 1998/99 is noted as zero for the coming year.

Both Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott and PLP Paget West candidate George Scott said there was money in Works and Engineering for planning and the start of the project.

But Dr. Gibbons said: "To say there is money in Works and Engineering seems to me to be inappropriate.

"It's one thing to have minor things like plans in there, but we're talking about a major project.'' He added that any Works and Engineering project costing more than $50,000 must have its own line in the Ministry budget.

Dr. Gibbons said: "There is no line item there and it wouldn't be under Works and Engineering anyway because the Post Office comes under Finance.'' And he claimed: "There has been some backpedalling after the fact to say they're carrying this forward.''