The scandal-ridden Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) can expect tighter Government oversight it was said yesterday as Premier Jennifer Smith created a new Cabinet post specifically charged with Housing.

Senator and Government Chief of Staff Lt. Col. David Burch was appointed to the level of Minister to take on the job of steering BHC back on course.

Last night, he told The Royal Gazette he expected his new role would be "challenging" but he welcomed the opportunity to return BHC's focus to its mandate of providing affordable housing.

"I feel alright," he said of his new role. "I have taken on a great challenge but I think I am up to it."

Minister Burch spent yesterday afternoon meeting with officers at BHC to begin acquainting himself with quango's programmes and policies.

He told The Royal Gazette he was happy with the results of his first meeting. "I think they're making strides over there. I hope to report at the end of the year, we'll see even more progress."

Returning to the quango's mandate will be key to success he suggested. "I think I have to concentrate on the BHC mandate and simply provide affordable housing for the rental community and for first time home-buyers."

The "upheaval" of the past six months - with allegations of corruption, kickbacks and over payment of contractors at BHC leading to sackings of general manager Raymonde Dill and property officer Terrence Smith and a criminal investigation - has been costly to the quango.

But the new Minister is confident BHC can rise above the scandal and recover its good name.

"We're going to try and work through it," he said. "I think that's one reason I was appointed, to allow for greater ministerial oversight of housing corporation and deliver on our mandate."

Minister Burch admitted there is still much to be told about what really happened at BHC, however, the public may wait awhile to hear it.

As the Police investigation continues, he said Government intends to proceed "very delicately".

"I would like to see the Police conclude their work as quickly as possible," he said. "There is a story to be told but we need to tread carefully so as not to then be accused of having jeopardised that criminal investigation."

While he's happy with the interim leadership that has been put in place at BHC, the new Minister said he would hold off on making decisions about whether officers would be reappointed at the end of their terms.

In the meantime he would like to see more success stories of the housing corporation brought into the public spotlight and financial controls tightened.

"Certainly they have a lot of success stories that are not being told," Sen. Burch said. "But we're also trying to institute policies and procedures to make sure some of these things cannot happen again."

On the new Minister's agenda for today will be meetings with Bermuda Land Development Company (BLDC) officials - the second quango for which he will hold responsibility.

Minister Burch said he hoped BLDC would be able to offer some assistance to BHC as the two entities move forward.

"I'm going to hear what they have to say about where we are at and what we need to develop as we move forward," he said.