THE building firm which criticised the construction of the new Berkeley Institute gymnasium roof is still owed more than $60,000 for work on the project, its owner claimed.

Ricky Sousa, of SKB Coatings, said Works & Engineering Minister David Burch confirmed his allegations that the roof was installed incorrectly by admitting that there were problems with the roof's flashings.

Last week Government revealed that the roof of the gymnasium was leaking in several places ? just days after opening for the new school term.

The fault prompted Mr. Sousa to reveal that the roof had not been constructed according to his company's specifications. SKB Coatings provided the materials for the roof but refused to warrant it as an SKB roof because sub-contractors did not follow the company's installation guidelines, he said.

On Monday Minister Burch hit back, accusing Mr. Sousa of making "scurrilous, misleading comments" and "what can only be described as sour grapes" for failing to win the contract to construct the roof.

The Minister went on to say that there was a problem with the roof's flashings ? metal strips used to cover roof joints ? which were now being repaired.

Yesterday, Mr. Sousa responded, saying his only concern was that he was still owed money for supplying materials for the project.

"I've been in the construction business a long time and lost many a contract over the years so there's no sour grapes there," he said.

"The only sour grapes I have is that we're still owed $61,000 for materials. The BIU did pay us in part but we're still owed over $60,000.

"We've tried to get the money back but we just get given the same old run-around. We keep on being told that the matter's in arbitration.

"But the fact is the Minister has confirmed what we said would happen by agreeing that there's a problem with the flashings. That's exactly what happens when the wrong tiles are fitted."

News of the leaking roof also came as no surprise to Gabriel Martel, the site inspector who earlier this year described the whole project as a "death trap".

He added that there could also be problems with the gymnasium floor after contractors took shortcuts.

Mr. Martel was hired by project manager Somers Construction to check that work was being completed to a satisfactory standard. But Government ordered him to be dismissed after he produced a dossier listing thousands of building violations at the controversial, over-budget project.

Informed of the leaking roof this week, Mr. Martel told the : "The roof on the gymnasium was installed under the supervision of Somers and not the original contractor.

"The gymnasium was the least advanced building on the complex when Somers took over. The slabs were poured but the steel was rusted and had to be cleaned prior to installation. As I had indicated to you before, no ethical engineer would sign off on that structure for occupancy. However, there is no shortage of engineers with stamps for sale so I'm sure they were able to buy the services of an engineer for final sign-off.

"The entire structural slab is in question and not built to any specification and certainly not to design. The re-enforcing rods were installed randomly and not properly tied for continuity."

Referring to the gymnasium floor, Mr. Martel said: "All the holes left exposed had the re-enforcing cut, thereby eliminating any structural integrity. If the floor was to crack, entire sections could fall to the level below. The steel has no continuity."