Sports Minister Randy Horton has assured Bermudians that Government will complete the National Sports Centre (NSC).

Making his presentation in this year's Budget he told the House of Assembly that the $5 million allocated to the NSC would be "to continue the development of the northern field pavilion and the multi-purpose surface".

"We are presently reviewing with the National Sports Centre trustees methods by which the remaining phases (of the NSC) can be completed," said Horton in his 90-minute speech.

He also informed his fellow Members of Parliament that an operational grant of $220,000 was being allocated to the trustees to pay the NSC's manager, grounds staff, bills as well as to cover repairs.

Declaring that the new facility was an accomplishment of which all Bermudians should be proud, Horton said the Frog Lane development will significantly "aid sports tourism".

Despite this information offered by the Minister, his opposite number demanded that Horton clear up what he termed "confusion" about what is happening at NSC.

Shadow Minister for Sports Cole Simons said there was uncertainty about what the $5 million was really to be allocated towards.

"This confusion arises because again at the recent Sports Conference the minister said `Government is challenging the NSC Trustees to examine ways in which they can attract finances from other sources to complete the remaining phases of the stadium development, without incurring Government debt that will have a negative impact on Government's debt ceiling'.

"The implication here is that no new funding from the Government's coffers will be paid to complete the NSC final phase," stated the United Bermuda Party MP.

Simons queried whether Government was trying "to hide" the NSC debt as the facility had never been recorded in the Government's Estimates of Revenues and Expenditure.

He charged that if "proper protocol" had been observed the NSC should have been recorded in the 1999-2000 Budget, incidentally the ruling Progressive Labour Party's (PLP) first Budget in office.

In addition, Simons said that about $775,000 had been paid in interest charges relating to the NSC.

Meanwhile, the ?lite of Bermudian sports will soon be honoured in a hall of fame.

"The machinery is being put in place to open Bermuda's first sports hall of fame. It's important to recognise those who have made contributions. It's long overdue," said Horton.

He disclosed that his ministry was planning to act on this initiative soon so that the first set of honourees should be selected before next April.

"I expect the first induction ceremony will be this fiscal year," added the Minister, explaining that a board of directors will be named to oversee the Hall of Fame's establishment.

Horton said that a special Hall of Fame building was not important right now and therefore one of the board's first tasks would be to identify an existing facility that could be utilised for the time being and to which the public could have access.