United Bermuda Party Senator Michael Fahy has called on the Ministry of Works & Engineering to be transparent about the exact costs of ongoing roadworks, deeming answers to his Parliamentary Questions "incomplete".

Mr. Fahy spoke out after receiving written answers to three questions on roadworks from PLP Senator David Burch, the Junior Minister of Works and Engineering in the Senate yesterday.

He had asked Sen. Burch to provide a road paving schedule for the 2009 / 2010 fiscal year, including details of "the specific roads selected for repaving and the expected dates of commencement and completion".

Sen. Burch replied without providing a schedule, instead stating that "some 12 kilometres of public roadway" will be repaved this fiscal year.

"The principal repaving scheme already completed this fiscal year is Pender Road in Sandys, in preparation for the opening of the new cruise ship terminal," he said in his written answer.

"During the remainder of fiscal 2009/2010, planned repaving schemes will take place throughout the Island."

Mr. Fahy called this answer "unacceptable", telling The Royal Gazette: "The voting public has a right to know exactly how the budget for road repaving is being utilised and measure whether roads are being paved on time, and indeed whether roads that really require repaving are being given the attention they deserve.

"As we know, many of the public roads in Bermuda are in a less than adequate state which contributes to road traffic accidents.

"Providing a schedule will also show whether roads that are paved immediately during election time were scheduled to be repaved in the first place. The public deserves answers."

Mr. Fahy also questioned the answer to his Parliamentary Question on "the total cost of the retaining wall and sidewalk being constructed on the south side of Middle Road between Belmont Hills Golf Club and the Lindo's store in Warwick Parish".

Sen. Burch responded that the cost is "estimated at $380,000?", including a question mark in his written answers.

"Surely the Government can do better than that," Mr. Fahy said. "In an effort to be 'open to the sunshine of public scrutiny' I believe that a more accurate figure would have been provided."

Sen. Burch did not respond when asked how approximate the $380,000 estimate is, or whether the question mark meant there was uncertainty about the figure.

He also did not respond when asked whether there is a road paving schedule available and whether he is able to share it.