The decision to award a 10-year contract to Maxcem Ltd. to run the Dockyard Cement Facility is just the latest example of Government "thumbing its nose at the principle of fairness".

That is the view of Shadow Minister for Works & Engineering Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, who said that the non-negotiable demands that drove the Bermuda Cement Company (BCC) from the premises more than two years ago - namely the demolition of the silos and the rebuilding of the plant - had now become not so important to the West End Development Company (Wedco).

In a statement released yesterday, Ms Gordon-Pamplin said that Maxcem, reportedly, is only required to look at moving the plant in the future and questioned when that would happen.

"Fairness has never been part of the Government's handling of this issue and Bermudians should take note because the infringement of such a principle can be used against whomever or whatever this Government decides to target," she said.

"The contract award - yet another to company boss Dennis Correia - raises a number of questions: Did the Finance Minister support the award? Who actually decided to award the contract to Maxcem?

"We think it wise, given the record, for the Government to suspend all decision on new contracts until a new Premier is picked later this year."