THE cost of a new cruise ship terminal at Dockyard is being kept under wraps by Government – even though the project is just weeks from being completed.

And the Opposition United Bermuda Party has promised to keep a watching brief on the final bill that taxpayers will pay for the controversial project.

Plans for the new terminal – which can accommodate mega cruise ships – were unveiled in 2007. Government declared that the facility would be complete in time for this year's cruise ship season.

However, the project was hit by a wave of controversy after the contract to build the terminal was awarded to Correia Construction – owned by Dennis Correia, who is a close friend of Premier Ewart Brown. Rival construction bosses alleged that the tendering process was doctored and that Mr. Correia's involvement in the development was a "done deal".

The project ran into further controversy last year, when the Mid-Ocean News revealed that construction costs were spiralling out of control.

Given an estimated cost of $35 million when building work first began, that estimate had shot up to $50 million by February 2008 – an increase of more than 40 per cent.

Despite repeated requests from this newspaper, Government has so far failed to provide further updates on how much how much the completed project is expected to cost. It has also repeatedly failed to reveal the reasons why costs have ballooned.

The Opposition accused Government of employing tactic of "silence and secrecy" and asked why tax payers were being denied basic information on projects that they were funding.

Yesterday, Shadow Works & Engineering Minister Pat Gordon-Pamplin once again condemned Government's silence on the issue.

"The United Bermuda Party, on behalf of the taxpayer, is maintaining its vigilence over the costs concerning this cruise terminal project," Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said.

"As Government has continually failed to disclose any changes in terms of the contract, the scope of work or burgeoning costs, we will await the upcoming budget to make further observations or comments on this matter."

Yesterday, the Mid-Ocean News e-mailed Government's Department of Communication and Information asking if either Works & Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess, or Premier, Transport Minister and Tourism Minister Dr. Brown, were willing to reveal the final estimated cost of the new terminal.

No response was received by Press time last night.