Premier Ewart Brown officially unveiled the new Transport Control Department facility in Hamilton yesterday, promising that it would lead to a far more efficient service for motorists.

The multimillion dollar North Street facility was completed four months ahead of schedule by Correia Construction, according to Dr. Brown.

He said an overhaul of the old TCD building was "desperately needed" and the new state-of-the-art building was a good example of what Government does with taxpayers' money.

"The building will not only be the home of the new improved TCD services but also the first emissions testing centre," the Premier told reporters and TCD workers gathered at yesterday's ceremony.

Dr. Brown, who is also Transport Minister, said the latest technology was being used to check the safety of vehicles, with two testing lanes for cars, one for motorcycles and one for trucks and larger vehicles. Seniors have their own dedicated area.

The registration service has also been speeded up, he said, with customers no longer having to stand at the counter when they are being served.

Dr. Brown said: "There is no question it's going to be a much more efficient operation and more services will be provided in short time."

The TCD project caused controversy last year when Correia Construction, owned by Dennis Correia, was awarded the Government contract to build three emissions testing centres by Bermuda Emissions Control (BEC), in which Mr. Correia holds 30 percent of the shares.

The Opposition alleged cronyism and said the contract should have gone out to tender rather than to a friend of the Premier's. At yesterday's unveiling ceremony, the Premier praised Mr. Correia for completing the job swiftly. "Maybe that has something to do with why the Government likes to see you do work," he said.

Dr. Brown's cousin Donal Smith, from BEC, said it had taken 19 years of dedicated hard work to get to the point where Bermuda had its own emissions testing centre to ensure cleaner air for the Island.

Ian Hind, director of operations at BEC, said the company was expected to take over testing early in the New Year and the new system would combine the best elements of the UK's MOT test for vehicles and the latest technology being used in the US.

"This will be a state-of-the-art facility," he said. "It's a more comprehensive test and, of course, we are adding the emissions."

TCD director Randy Rochester said the new facility was delivered on-budget for $14 million.