"Incensed" Island Cement boss Myron Piper yesterday accused Government of snubbing black empowerment by giving the Dockyard Cement Facility contract to Dennis Correia's Maxcem after a "sham" bidding process.

Mr. Piper called for Auditor General Heather Jacobs Matthews to head an investigation, claiming his company was given no chance of winning the lease.

In an angry statement, Bermuda Democratic Alliance member Mr. Piper also:

• lambasted Deputy Premier Paula Cox for her silence over the issue;

• accused Premier Ewart Brown of playing Caesar by not "giving a damn about his subjects";

• dubbed West End Development Company chairman Walter Lister "Pontius Pilate" for "washing his hands" of the matter in allowing the deal to happen.

Mr. Piper said Mrs. Jacobs Matthews, Attorney General Kim Wilson, Ms Cox and fellow leadership contender Terry Lister should investigate and publicly discuss "the public's perception of favouritism" with the awarding of the cement silo lease to Dennis Correia's company, Maxcem.

A judicial review may find the tendering process unfair and the contract could be revoked, he suggested.

Maxcem, which has been operating at the site for two and a half years since taking over from Jim Butterfield's Bermuda Cement Company in controversial circumstances, was awarded a ten-year lease by Wedco on Wednesday.

Earlier that day, Terry Lister had called for Cabinet to sign no more contracts until a new Premier is elected. He declined to comment further yesterday, saying he had already made his position clear.

Mr. Piper claims Maxcem had an unfair advantage because as leaseholder it had prior knowledge of conditions put in place by Wedco; meanwhile he says Island Cement was out in the cold because it was set unrealistic deadlines.

Walter Lister has refuted those claims, describing them as "opinion, not fact".

Mr. Piper responded yesterday that the questions in Wedco's Request For Proposal were "heavily swayed requiring proprietary information that only Maxcem could provide".

At Wednesday's press conference announcing the contract award, Walter Lister referred to one "disgruntled" bidder.

Mr. Piper said yesterday: "Mr. Lister's statement I was disgruntled couldn't be further from the truth.

"I am sure the other respondents are disappointed when they look at the arrogance this Government has shown in handing over the lease to Dennis Correia at the detriment of black empowerment.

"I am not disgruntled, but incensed that a black labour Government has once again let its people down. I stand for Country first and politics second. This entire process was a sham."

He called for Ms Cox to intervene to show it wouldn't be business as usual under her administration.

"It will give her the opportunity to show that she is more than just a 'cog in the wheel', particularly when it seems that the main source of her support in the leadership bid stems from the base of Dr. Brown's administration," said Mr. Piper.

"Will she perpetuate the present dysfunction in Government or will she be able to lead this Country into a new dawn should she be elected?

"Paula Cox has been conspicuously silent during this entire period of mismanagement by the Government, explained by herself as being just a 'cog in the wheel'.

"Over this past year through this entire process, I have publicly called for a fair bidding process because of the fear of favouritism and cronyism.

"The awarding of this lease under these circumstances to Maxcem is an abuse of entrusted power by the Brown Government. How can we trust Minister Cox to discontinue these practices?

"Look at the timing of this award to Correia, two months before the departure of his good friend Dr. Brown.

"Is this present leadership fearful that this contract might not be awarded to Correia under a new administration?"

Sen. Wilson said Wedco falls outside her remit, but said Mr. Piper is entitled to begin his own application for judicial review if he and his attorneys deem it appropriate.

• At press time The Royal Gazette was seeking a response from Wedco's Walter Lister.