Progressive Labour Party candidate El James yesterday sought to "set the record straight" about his name being linked to a Police investigation into allegations of corruption at the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

Mr. James, candidate for Warwick North Central and a former MP for Warwick West (1998-2003), said his name had been referred to in this newspaper as being mentioned in leaked Police files into the allegations, together with Premier Dr. Ewart Brown, Dame Jennifer Smith, Nelson Bascome and Zane DeSilva.

When the Police investigation concluded in 2004, then acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Kulandra Ratneser, said many of those investigated could only be accused of bad ethics, due to Bermuda's antiquated corruption laws.

Yesterday, Mr. James wanted to stress his non-involvement in any allegations of wrong-doing, and said he had never been questioned by Police.

"This is several years ago, but now in 2007 this is the first time my name has been mentioned and I've heard I've been linked in any way. I have never been interviewed by anyone," said Mr. James

"I am sure that when the Police checked this out, if they did, then they knew it was done out of goodwill and that I haven't done anything unethical or to benefit me financially."

Mr. James, former national cricket team star fast bowler and President of the Bermuda Cricket Board, said: "I want to set the record straight. I've seen a report in which people claimed I had received contracts and I want to clarify the situation now so people will know."

He said that in 1999 he was chairman of the Port Royal Golf Course and headed a 12-man board which passed two derelict properties on to the BHC to be renovated and then rented out.

Mr. James said: "We had no money but as the BHC was appealing to the public to take derelict houses, renovate them and then rent them until the expenses were recovered, as a board we discussed this.

"We made a decision that I have no regrets about making. It was providing housing for the people and also getting these derelict properties which were an eyesore fixed up. And if I had to do it all again I would, because there was nothing illegal or unethical about it. It was a decision made in good faith."

Mr. James added that in 1999 he also assisted some young men in finding work, some of whom received payments from the BHC for various renovation and maintenance work.

"I found a group of individuals at the wall by the Rubber Tree in Middle Road, who asked me if I could help them find employment. So we formed this group and put adverts for painting, light maintenance, grass cutting, etc., in the newspaper. We got several jobs as a result, two of which came through the BHC.

"I was only the person organising this, and I paid for the ads out of my own pocket. When those cheques for the work arrived I did not receive any money, it went straight to the men doing the work.

"I have a group of individuals there right now who are asking me to do this as I did for the others, and I would do it again, I have no regrets."