United Bermuda Party Deputy Leader Trevor Moniz caused an angry reaction from Premier Ewart Brown when he raised questions about the Premier's friend Dennis Correia getting the Dockyard pier contract.

Speaking late on Friday night's Budget Reply debate in the House of Assembly, Mr. Moniz brought up Mr. Correia's name as he rounded on the distribution of Government contracts.

The suggestion prompted a clearly irked Dr. Brown — absent from the Chamber at that point — to dash into the room.

"The dead have awakened," said Mr. Moniz, before Dr. Brown responded: "I never came to this House or anywhere else and said that the contract will go to my friend Dennis Correia."

A short exchange followed, in which Mr. Moniz repeated that Dr. Brown had stated the contract should go to Mr. Correia, who is his friend.

Dr. Brown reiterated: "I never said in this House or anywhere else that the contract for Dockyard should go to my friend."

Mr. Moniz replied: "I didn't say he used those words, but he said that the contract should go to Dennis Correia. That's a matter of public record."

"He's running away again," he continued as Dr. Brown departed the Chamber.

Mr. Moniz also raised questions about the amount of money spent on consultants such as Progressive Labour Party Senator Marc Bean, for which he said there appeared to be no tender.

"In some cases they go out to people not even on the shortlist," said the veteran UBP MP.

Mr. Moniz then spoke about Atlanta-based consultants Ambling, which according to Parliamentary Responses has picked up jobs with Works and Engineering, Tourism and Environment Ministries.

As Minister without Portfolio Zane DeSilva spoke in defence of Ambling, Mr. Moniz said: "Let's come put the contract on the table. Let's have a look at it and see exactly what they did do."

He added: "There were many areas in which this Government could trim their sails and save millions upon millions of dollars."

The Opposition MP concluded by saying Bermuda should learn lessons from Turks and Caicos, which was the subject of a Commission of Inquiry into possible corruption.

"I'm sure the Premier knows well about that. He has a house down there. He knows the Misicks well," said Mr. Moniz, referring to the former TCI Premier Michael Misick and his estranged wife LisaRaye McCoy.

"We encourage this Government to turn around their poor behaviour, do what's right and then Bermuda can heal itself from this situation.

"But it's going to get worse before it gets better."