Government has been accused of misleading the public about the safety of units at the Grand Atlantic housing project.

However, the One Bermuda Alliance says it is not trying to fool anyone about the controversial development.

In a statement yesterday, Shadow Minister Michael Weeks attacked the Government, saying the party had carried out a “pre-election scaremongering campaign”.

“The OBA put political gain over people, by misleading, and possibly deceiving Bermudians, away from purchasing units at Grand Atlantic,” Mr Weeks said. “Now, as they seek to sell off this government asset, all of the danger the OBA warned about at the cliff-side on this property, seems to have faded.”

He quoted OBA MP Sylvan Richards as calling the project a “disaster in the making” and OBA candidate Ray Charlton as saying: “Well, as it is built, we need to find a way of putting some lipstick on this pig.”

He also questioned if the OBA is telling potential investors that the property is safe, and will the project be sold now that exempt companies are allowed to purchase property.

Mr Weeks added: “What a difference an election makes. The OBA has a habit of ducking questions and avoiding dealing with Bermudians’ concerns. One thing they cannot do however is to run from the truth.

“Bermudians need to come first in jobs, opportunity and respect in our country. That is not happening with an OBA that is prepared to repeatedly mislead Bermudians.”

OBA chairman Thad Hollis responded that the Grand Atlantic Project was an unsuccessful PLP initiative that the current administration is still trying to turn around.

“It had major issues, as all Bermudians know, which was the reason that the PLP government only ever managed to sell one unit,” he said. “The difference between the approach of the PLP government when they were in power and that of the present government is that we are not trying to fool anyone into thinking there are no problems with the development.

“Yes, the Government is trying to sell the Grand Atlantic project, but any buyer the Government negotiates with will know up front what the problems are, and will take responsibility for dealing with those problems. I have no doubt that when there is something to report on that front, the Minister of Works will let us all know.”

The Grand Atlantic was first announced in 2009 as a hybrid tourist and residential project made up of affordable housing and a 100-room hotel. Groups including the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce expressed concern about the project’s proximity to a nearby cliff face, but developers stated that geotechnical surveys showed the project was safe.

A total of 78 residential units were built on the site, but only one was sold. Government last year announced it would seek alternate proposals for the property, and last month the Bermuda Housing Corporation were said to be in “sensitive discussions with enthusiastic, interested investors”.