Bermuda Homes for People has denied reports it is no longer going to pay to move businesses from a Southside site earmarked for a major housing project.

The news comes despite an e-mail between PR woman Aideen Ratteray Pryse and project manager John Gaston in which Mr. Gaston was asked to explain the reasons why the costs of moving more than 35 businesses from Ship?s Wharf, St. David?s couldn?t be covered.

Mr. Gaston replied listing a series of costs, including:

BLDC requesting $500,000 for help with a malfunctioning sewage system

the fire department requesting a fully pressurised fire hydrant system costing $400,000.

petrol dropped into the ground by tenants costing up to $700,000 to clean

$375,000 worth of erosion work.

However Mr. Gaston contacted to explain there will still be $750,000 to cover relocation, with the money split according to the size of business involved.

Asked about why he did not make that clear in the initial e-mail exchange which was also sent to St. David?s MP Suzann Roberts-Holsouser in order for her to inform tenants Mr Gaston said Ms Ratteray Pryse was not as close to the project as he was.

He said some board members had trouble understanding the the details of some of the financial documents involved.

Last week frustrated tenants at the industrial park vowed to get legal help to block their eviction because they have nowhere to go to.

Bermuda Homes for People intends to break ground in early January but landlords Bermuda Land Development Company have said alternative industrial space in Southside won?t be available until the summer and they have yet to issue eviction notices.

Mr. Gaston said Bermuda Homes for People had done everything it could to urge various parts of Government to keep tenants informed.