Gibbons to release an independent consultants' report on Bermuda's tax structure.

Mr. Cox said it was wrong for Dr. Gibbons to withhold the report from the public, especially in the run-up to the election. The report was finished almost six months ago.

"I call on Grant Gibbons to release the tax report,'' he said. "It is reprehensible that he has released it to business but has not released it to the public. It's a big issue. I personally believe that the only reason he has not released it is because there is something in there that is not as favourable as he would like.'' But Dr. Gibbons said yesterday the consultants' report was "very complicated and complex'' and since he had mentioned it in the Budget it needed to be debated in the House of Assembly.

The report has been released to a small group of people -- mainly accountants -- for specific comment and not to the wider business community.

"In spite of what Mr. Cox is suggesting this is a very favourable report on our tax structure and fiscal system.''