Shadow Finance Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin has accused Government of breaking protocol by making major binding decisions in the middle of an election.

She said Government in Bermuda assumed a caretaker role once Parliament has been formally dissolved by the Governor.

It's a practice that she said was also followed in other countries such as the UK, Canada and Caribbean islands such as Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada and The Cayman Islands.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said: "That circumstance ensures that the Government of the day will take no decisions that would bind an incoming Government and limit its freedom of action.

"The basic caretaker conventions require that the Government avoid implementing major policy initiatives, avoid making significant appointments and not enter into any major contracts or undertakings during the caretaker period."

She said the caretaker conventions operate from the dissolution of Parliament, which happened on November 7, until the general election result is clear or, in the event of a change of government, until the new government is appointed.

"These conventions make good sense, as decisions which are rushed through just before an election may be politically expedient for the Government, but not necessarily in the best, longer term interests of the community."

The first abuse of the practice was the order by Government that the Bermuda Cement Company must leave its premises at Dockyard on December 31, said Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin.

"With no plan announced to replace the cement currently supplied to the construction industry by Bermuda Cement Company, Government's decision has put the construction industry at risk as without a daily supply of cement the larger construction companies will not be able to function.

"Experts in the industry have said that an interruption of supply will lead to layoffs after only ten days, so hundreds of Bermudian jobs may be at risk, too, in the Christmas season, as a consequence of Government's precipitous decision."

And Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said the UBP also understood there is a deal that would see Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts take a significant interest in the Coral Beach and Tennis Club, and Horizons and Cottages, properties owned by Bermudians.

"Our understanding is that the deal is virtually signed and sealed between the parties.

"While the details and timing still remain to be announced, we would hope that any major Government decisions involving licensing or final approval would not occur until after a new government has been put in place following the general election."

Premier Ewart Brown responded: "It might be helpful to provide some reality to the Deputy Opposition Leader's rant.

"The December 31 deadline in Dockyard for the Bermuda Cement Company was set long before an election was announced. So that's a non-starter.

"Meantime, Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin's comments on Coral Beach and Horizons are wildly speculative.

"I expect this is a situation where the Deputy Opposition Leader has released a statement simply for the joy of reading her name in the newspaper."