Confidential documents not previously shared with Parliament will come under the scrutiny of a team reviewing the airport redevelopment project, finance minister Bob Richards has announced.

At a press conference this afternoon, Mr Richards revealed retired KPMG partner Malcolm Butterfield will chair the group, which will also include economist Craig Simmons; Gil Tucker and Anthony Joaquin, both formerly of Ernst & Young; Butterfield Bank chairman Barclay Simmons; Caroline Foulger, a former partner at PwC.

They will produce their conclusions before the end of this month.

Asked if the group would have a budget, the minister said: “They are not being paid — they are doing this out of public service.”

Mr Richards told the press conference: “This Blue Ribbon Panel will provide an additional independent evaluation of the Airport Redevelopment Project as to whether the option chosen is the best one or Bermuda, given the realities facing the island.”