A senior Government officer has been branded a liar who is "trying to save his own butt'' by the head of Bermuda's Industrial Union.

The allegation came from BIU President Derrick Burgess yesterday in the row over four lobster fishermen who had their traps confiscated last month after tampering with escape hatches.

Mr. Burgess claimed that at a meeting between senior fisheries warden Dr.

Brian Luckhurst and fishermen last September it was agreed that escape gaps to traps could be wired up on a temporary basis.

But when Dr. Luckhurst denied that he had made the agreement Mr. Burgess countered: "He's not telling the truth.

"The problem was openly discussed and a number of solutions were mentioned.

However, because the season was already in progress it was determined that a temporary solution was needed.

"The meeting agreed that wire could be put across the escape gaps until such time that Dr. Luckhurst came back with a permanent solution. There was an agreement and he was meant to come back.

"He's sidestepping the issue to save his own behind and that's the problem with these guys -- they are just not telling the truth.

"Maybe he's behaving this way because he's seen the way Mr. Pearman acts and he's thinking `I don't want to get on the wrong side of him' but he had better start telling the truth.'' Burgess claims Govt. official `trying to save his own butt' Mr. Burgess produced a petition signed by 12 fishermen who were at the meeting who claim that, as a temporary solution to the problem of non standard escape hatches, it was agreed that they could be wired up.

"Who are people going to believe -- one man or 12?'' Mr. Burgess said.

"Dr. Luckhurst is trying to save his own butt. During the past year fishermen had made a concerted effort to work with the Ministry of the Environment.

However, fishermen have again learned the invaluable lesson that only the naive can trust this Government.'' When told of Mr. Burgess' allegations Dr. Luckhurst declined to comment, saying that he had nothing further to say on the matter. "I have nothing else to say and you should talk to the ministry with regard to any further discussions on this matter,'' he said.

Mr. Burgess also launched a broadside on Environment Minister Irving Pearman for the way he handled the matter. It was Mr. Pearman's decision to revoke the lobster licences for the rest of the season.

"Mr. Pearman is being very callous about this,'' Mr. Burgess said.

"Every time the fishermen do something they throw the book at them. It was a very bad and immature for the minister to act in the way he did.

"It would appear that we indeed have a Government that is undeserving of the loyalty and trust of the working class and to think otherwise would simply be naive.''