Premier Ewart Brown yesterday cautioned Southlands Ltd. against maligning potential Morgan's Point developer Patrick Ellis, as tension over the land swap deal heightened.

The Tourism Minister suggested that Mr. Ellis get involved in plans for a new luxury resort at Morgan's Point last month [EmDash] but the three Southlands directors have said they prefer to work with their own partners, John Ryan and Egbert Perry.

Southlands co-owner Nelson Hunt alleged on the Everest DaCosta radio talk show on Wednesday that Mr. Ellis was under investigation in Turks and Caicos (TCI) for "screwing around with Crown land".

But the Premier told the same radio programme yesterday he believed such claims were an "attempt to trash him and I think that's most unfortunate".

"Southlands has not seen fit to join with this gentleman; that's their call," he said, adding that he hoped they were "careful not to malign any individual unless they have the facts".

Mr. Ellis's name came up during evidence given at last year's Commission of Inquiry into possible corruption or other serious dishonesty in TCI, another British Overseas Territory.

Don-Hue Gardiner, national chairman of TCI's Progressive National Party, referred to him as the principal behind a company called Caicos Resorts Investments during his testimony.

Mr. Gardiner told the inquiry that a company of which he was a shareholder, Caicos Group Ltd., received funds from Mr. Ellis' company for a conditional purchase lease it had on a parcel of Crown land. The hearing heard that Caicos Resorts Investments made payments to Caicos Group of more than $2 million between 2006 and 2008.

The UK initiated the Commission of Inquiry in TCI after allegations of corruption against then Premier Michael Misick and other officials. The year-long investigation found a "high probability of systemic corruption or other serious dishonesty" by key politicians and businessmen. Dr. Misick, a friend of Dr. Brown, stepped down as leader but denies wrongdoing.

Dr. Brown said on yesterday's programme he had no knowledge of Mr. Ellis being involved in the TCI nquiry. Later, in response to a caller who challenged him on the point, the Premier said: "I know nothing about the details of the Commission.

"I only know that Mr. Ellis has told us that he has not been asked to testify in front of the Commission and that he has had no business with the Commission."

He said Mr. Ellis was responsible for the luxury Amanyara resort in TCI, an Amanresorts property. Dr. Brown also posted this message on his Facebook page yesterday: "Friends: I want you to do me a favour.

"Go to www.amanyara.com and tell me if you like it."

A Government spokesman told The Royal Gazette earlier this week that Mr. Ellis spoke for the Aman brand. "Having developed the Amanyara, that's the basis on which he speaks for Aman. He occupies a certain position in the organisation."

This newspaper revealed the tensions between Southlands Ltd. and Government earlier this week in an exclusive interview with Southlands director Brian Duperreault.

Bermudians Mr. Duperreault, Mr. Hunt and Craig Christensen bought the 37-acre Southlands estate in 2005 with a view to building a five-star resort on the land.

But they agreed to swap it for 80 acres of Morgan's Point in 2008 and build there instead after environmental campaigners protested against the development of one of the Island's last remaining unspoilt plots.

Mr. Duperreault, chief executive officer of insurance giant Marsh & McLennan Companies, said Dr. Brown had stalled the exchange and treated Southlands Ltd. unfairly.

Government has since hit back with claims that the three men are inexperienced in hotel development. Dr. Brown, who has rejected a request from this newspaper for an interview on the topic, said on the radio:<\p>"This whole situation deserves a lower volume, less rancour and let's get the people's business done."

He said he suggested Mr. Ellis get involved in the planned resort after Cabinet gave him permission to speak to developers other than those already working with Southlands Ltd.

"I thought it would be a good thing to introduce those guys [Southlands Ltd.] to Patrick Ellis, who developed the Amanyara in Turks and Caicos," said Dr. Brown.

He said Mr. Ellis visited the former US Naval Air Station in Southampton last summer and was interested in the project but was told Government was "having discussions" with Southlands Ltd.

Bermuda Tourism Board chairman E. Michael Jones confirmed yesterday that he showed Mr. Ellis around Morgan's Point. He said he had no further comment as "I'm just aware that there is quite a lot of controversy about this and I'm trying my best not to add any more to it".

Mr. Ellis, who is believed to be British, is reported in the TCI<\p>media to have been involved with at least three hotel projects on the Caribbean island.

According to an article in the Turks & Caicos Weekly News he was involved in the creation of Parrot Cay, the Amanyara and The Tanai. It has not been possible to get confirmation of his involvement from those three resorts this week.

Southlands Ltd. signed a letter of intent in June last year to work with developers Mr. Ryan, of the Ryan Group, and Mr. Perry, of the Integral Group, on the Morgan's Point resort.

Mr. Duperreault said they did not want to switch to a new development partner and did not see a proper plan from Mr. Ellis. "He didn't know costs in Bermuda. He didn't know land values. He didn't know government regulations. He basically knew very little."

The Ryan Group developed Ritz-Carlton hotel and resort in Grand Cayman, which opened in 2005, and recently signed a deal in Antigua for a 2,000-acre resort.

Chartered accountant Mr. Christensen appeared on Mr. DaCosta's show after the Premier yesterday and said he and his partners felt "a little bit like lone rangers, out there getting beat up".

A Government spokesman said Southlands Ltd. would present its plan for Morgan's Point to the Cabinet on March 16. "They've been given all the time they asked for to do so."