Bermuda General Agency (BGA) to black entrepreneur Wendall Brown.

The deal, thought to be worth around $12 million, was revealed in last week's Mid-Ocean News which also claimed it had been agreed by the Bank of Butterfield in return for political favours.

This claim was denied by the bank's president Calum Johnson this week and he also denied a Government representative had urged them to do it.

Yesterday in the House of Assembly PLP backbencher Wayne Perinchief said: "What I saw in the newspaper highlights everything negative in the Country.

"We wish to change the economic position that the majority of the people find themselves in in this Country.

"We can't influence to a great extent the way the economy runs in this country.'' He said the deal between white businessman Ward Young and Mr. Brown, who is black, was healthy for the country but elements in both communities were negative about the move.

He said: "It does sadden me when detractors both black and white are openly critical of a partnership trying to cross boundaries. It's wrong from both sides.

"We are trying to cement bonds but whenever we try to bring them together it's `Oh, no, you are crossing that line in the sand'.

"We have black detractors and we have white detractors. Racism knows no bounds or colours.

"We need to stop it. I would hope to put bigots on notice, that we should bring an end to it.'' Dame Lois Browne Evans said she had been keen to recruit Mr. Browne into politics but he had been deadset on pursuing a business career.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott said Mr. Brown had an extensive business background and he lamented the Mid Ocean article which he described as the "death of truth''.