Government has categorically ruled out the possibility of a public inquiry into the management of the Berkeley project ? to the dismay of the Opposition and the Bermuda Industrial Union.

Repeated attempts to contact Premier Alex Scott and Works Minister Ashfield DeVent were unsuccessful yesterday, although Government spokeswoman Beverle Lottimore confirmed that no independent investigation was on the agenda.

?The issue has been well covered by two thorough debates in Parliament,? she said. ?The call for a public inquiry has come from the Opposition and the Premier does not have to speak to that.

?The focus now is on getting the project finished for September 2005 and a public inquiry would only distract from that objective.?

Calls for an inquiry were made repeatedly by the Opposition in the House of Assembly on Friday, while the BIU has also backed the demand.

Mr. DeVent admitted that certain aspects of the project had proved ?disappointing?, but avoided any reference to an inquiry in his official response on Friday.

Speaking to yesterday evening, Shadow Works Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin labelled the decision ?a disgrace?.

She also took issue with Government?s assertion that a public inquiry would hinder progress on the project, arguing that many of those responsible for the ?fiasco? are no longer directly involved and would be free to participate.

?The Government is yet again doing what it does best ? studiously ducking an issue when the public is trying to hold them to account,? she said.

?A public inquiry would not delay the project any further. The original contractor Pro-Active Management (Systems) are no longer employed at the site while certain individuals within the Ministry of Works and Engineering would also be available because Somers Construction has taken over a lot of the responsibilities.?

?But the fact that the Government is not prepared to be upfront with the people of Bermuda is unacceptable,? she continued.

?They have a propensity for spending public funds without feeling they should be held to the highest standards of accountability. The cost of this project has escalated from the original $71 million to $103 million and counting.

?That the Government is not prepared to have a transparent investigation into where the project went wrong is absolutely disgraceful and an indication perhaps that they have something to hide.?