Government should "come clean" on whether the senior school at Berkeley construction project will be delayed, insisted the Opposition United Bermuda Party (UBP) on Friday.

But ruling party whip Ottiwell Simmons argued that the Opposition's questions had already been answered by Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott when they were raised before.

Brandishing a copy of Thursday's newspaper with a front page story on Berkeley, Mr. Adderley insisted that all was not well with the $70 million project.

"If it's not going to be finished on time what is the contingency plan for educating our people?" he asked.

But ruling party whip Ottiwell Simmons replied: "The Minister has spoken with respect to the situation of the high school at Berkeley."

"Now he comes to the House with information from The Royal Gazette and if you want to believe that so be it. He's behaving as if The Royal Gazette is totally in charge."

Mr. Scott, who has responsibility for the project was absent during Friday's proceedings.

Mr. Adderley went on to voice concerns that a delay would lead to cost overruns and said there was a rumour about that the project's performance bond was not in place.

"If it's not in place the community suffers because the taxpayer has to complete the additional funding," he said.

"I could not believe that Cabinet could be that irresponsible."

He said Government was guilty of a "dereliction of duty" even regardless of whether the rumour was true or not.

"It's a dereliction of duty because they don't have a bond, or because they are not telling the public if they do. The public deserves to know the truth."

It was another predictable motion to adjourn in the House of Assembly - the Opposition accused Government of a penchant for secrecy, doing things behind closed doors without consultation and complained about the Tourism Minister's "failure" to revitalise the industry.

But they defended having to repeat themselves saying that questions were just not being answered.

"The role of each of us is to protect the people," said the UBP's Jamahl Simmons. "We are not here to bring down the Government - I believe we cannot love our country and hate the Government."

Mr. Simmons claimed that there was now a "sour mood throughout the country" because of the ruling party's attitude.

And he questioned why Government could not release information that was in the public's interest.

"Why are these things being concealed from the people of this country who have paid for these things to be done ?" he asked referring to several overdue reports. In this day and age people want to be consulted."

He said that it was unfair to MPs because they are not in a position to answer questions raised by their constituents.

It would be irresponsible, agreed Patricia Gordon Pamplin, for the Opposition party not to ask questions when they come to the House.

"There's no need to shoot the messenger if they don't like the message."

Furthur coverage on Page 5