Deputy Premier Bob Richards has accused the Progressive Labour Party of “naked politics” in the row over the airport redevelopment project.

Mr Richards was responding to allegations made by acting Opposition leader David Burt and shadow transport minister Lawrence Scott at the PLP’s town hall meeting in St George’s on Tuesday evening, which he dubbed “a pack of lies”.

Among the claims made were that the Bermudian taxpayer would foot the airport’s $90 million electricity bill over 30 years, that the new facility would be smaller than the current one and that Canadian construction firm Aecon could sell the airport whenever it desired as part of its agreement with the Government.

At a press conference yesterday, Mr Richards said: “The Bermudian public should not be deceived by innuendo, false allegations and political rhetoric.”

He claimed that the proposed $250 million airport would function on electricity from the new solar plant known as “The Finger”, which would be built and financed privately, and that the airport’s current Belco bills were almost $60,000 per month less than PLP estimates.

Mr Richards called Mr Scott’s suggestion that the new facility would have fewer gates “patently false”, and said that the Government had already stated that the airport’s concession contract cannot be sold without its explicit permission.

Regarding the Government’s refusal to share details of the airport deal with the press or public, Mr Richards stood firm that the matter should remain private until it is signed and sealed.

“While businesses are in negotiation for any kind of major contract, it is the general rule that the parties sign a non-disclosure agreement to keep things confidential until a [deal]has been signed,” he said.

Mr Richards also claimed that the 33 pages of the present deal which have been shared with the public to date were more than sufficient.

“There has been more disclosure on this deal, prior to the deal being signed, than any other agreement in the history of this country,” he said.

“Yet I’m still getting pressure from the press to keep releasing more things. We’re not hiding anything, we’re conducting this in the normal course of business.”

He added: “The Bermuda public should ask themselves what is the motivation behind this constant drumbeat of opposition to an infrastructure project that will replace a crumbling facility, create hundreds of badly needed jobs for Bermudians and not increase the public debt? The answer is naked politics.

“The Opposition is prepared to squander the opportunity for us to do what they couldn’t do. They are simply trying to deny the Government’s realisation of an accomplishment of this magnitude.

“This is further evidence that the Opposition continues to put party before country.”

He also blamed the PLP for stoking bad feeling towards the airport deal.

A Royal Gazette poll conducted last month revealed that 53 per cent of respondents wanted the Government to cease its dealings with the Canadian Commercial Corporation, with 37 per cent in favour of the partnership and 10 per cent unsure.

When asked about widespread opposition to the redevelopment deal, Mr Richards replied: “No wonder people don’t want it, because they’re getting told a pack of lies.

“This project will replace a facility which, essentially, is a disgrace.

“We will persuade many of those [opposing the deal], once they gain an appreciation of the full facts in the face of a fusillade of misinformation.

“Once we get the information out there, people will support this.”

• This article previously stated that Mr Richards had claimed the airport could not be sold without the Government’s explicit permission. It has been amended to show that Mr Richards stated no one will or can sell the airport. “The Bermuda airport is and will always be owned by Bermuda and her people,” he said.