Tourism Minister Renee Webb launched a stinging attack on The Royal Gazette yesterday, claiming it is campaigning on behalf of the United Bermuda Party.

The charge was strongly denied by the newspaper's editor Bill Zuill who said The Royal Gazette is politically neutral and was being attacked for doing its job of bringing accurate information of public interest to the people of Bermuda.

Ms Webb said the Press was "vicious and extremely dangerous, particularly in this pre-election period".

She made the accusation at a Press conference yesterday over The Royal Gazette's revelations that businessman John Jefferis managed to drastically renegotiate a deal after he was selected to manage Stonington - saving himself millions in rent, securing a longer lease, and obtaining a two acre chunk of land which was not on the table when he was chosen.

"In its continuing effort to electioneer on behalf of the opposition UBP, we see that The Royal Gazette is continuing its campaign to try to discredit the current government,"she said.

"Yesterday we had private documentation regarding Bermuda Housing Corporation that was leaked to The Royal Gazette and today we have information with respect to Stonington Beach Hotel, confidential information. And in true Royal Gazette style, sympathetic to the Opposition, they took pleasure in trying to expose what they thought was some secret transaction and dealing."

The newspaper was involved in "absolute politicking on behalf of the Opposition and has no credibility whatsoever and it will never stop us winning the election on Thursday. Make sure you quote me on that."

She said Government had been muzzled from talking about the Auditor General's report on the Bermuda Housing Corporation because of the on-going Police investigation into the quango, but The Royal Gazette had published the report.

And yesterday the newspaper wrote its Stonington story which was also based on leaked documents.

"Just because you sit behind a pen doesn't mean you are the lords and gods of Bermuda. You should be held as responsible as the rest of us," said Ms Webb. "Your electioneering on behalf of your directors and the Opposition will come to naught because we will win the election.

"We don't want to waste time taking on The Royal Gazette. The Royal Gazette is no friend and never will be as long as it is owned by the present owners. The only way (the PLP) will get unbiased reporting is when we have another daily newspaper so we have competition.

"Competition brings out the best in people and it might bring out the best in TheGazette. The Press is vicious and extremely dangerous, particularly in this pre-election time."

Mr. Zuill responded: "For the second day in a row, this newspaper has been attacked for doing its job.

"Today Ms Webb has claimed that this newspaper is electioneering on behalf of its owners and on behalf of the United Bermuda Party by publishing the stories about the Auditor's report on Monday and on Stonington today.

"I want to state for the record that this newspaper is politically neutral and it is a matter of complete disinterest to me who will win the General Election on Thursday.

"Nor have I as Editor ever been given direction from the Board of Directors of Bermuda Press (Holdings) Ltd. on our news coverage except that it should be fair and accurate.

"With regard to the issues concerned in the two stories, the Auditor's report was published in the public interest. For the first time, the public has a full idea of the depth and breadth of the problems in the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

"The issue with regard to Stonington is this: Mr. Jefferis and others put forward a number of proposals to lease and manage the hotel. Mr. Jefferis was selected, and then renegotiated the deal and secured more favourable terms than he had proposed originally.

"As was stated in the story, Mr. Jefferis said he had taken on additional liabilities later on, but apart from the question of asbestos, these are unspecified and Ms Webb described them yesterday as 'unknown'.

"I also think it is fair to ask if the bidding process was fair to the other bidders if the terms were changed after the successful bidder was selected. As we stated in an editorial today, we cannot choose the times that sources choose to provide us with information. Our job is to evaluate the information, ensure that it is fair and accurate and to present it to our readers as quickly as possible."