Christmas tree importer Richard Powell has lashed out at Government inspectors after claiming they are giving his shipments a thorough going over while going soft on his business rival.

However, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries pointed out that they had found disease on one of his trees so thorough inspection was justified.

And Plant Protection Officer Terry Lynn Thompson said another batch had been cut from near where Pine Needle scale was found so detailed checks were necessary.

Mr. Powell, of Lines Food and Liquor Mart, said two containers arriving two weeks ago from Vermont received extensive checks while those arriving from competitor Quebec Balsam had cursory checks in the hunt for Pine Needle Scale (PNS).

Mr. Powell admitted the first tree from the first container did have PNS, the sap-sucking bug which poses a threat to Bermuda's precious cedars.

"It was inspected on the dock and then the next day at the Corporation of Hamilton,'' he said.

But he questioned why his trees, arriving last week from Quebec, also received a thorough going over while claiming that those coming from rival Quebec Balsam were waived through after a brief spot check.

He said: "I am crying foul. (Quebec Balsam boss) Gerry Couture is getting preferential treatment. The department is favouring him.

"I had two containers. They pulled 12 trees from the first and 12 bundles of trees from the second.

"But they were pre-inspected before they got here. But they pulled one, two or three trees from Quebec Balsam's containers and all six containers were passed within the hour.

"There was an inspection at the Dismont Robinson store and they didn't even take the netting off.'' But Ms Thompson flatly denied that. She said: "This is preposterous. There was one person unwrapping the trees, another inspecting and a third wrapping them up.

"I am very disappointed with Mr. Powell considering all we've done for him.'' She said Government inspectors had squeezed in a last-minute site inspection for Mr. Powell during their recent tour of Canadian forests hoping to export to Bermuda.

"We passed a site we would not ordinarily have passed because we knew he needed a supplier and it wasn't such a high risk,'' she said.

Ms Thompson added that although PNS had been found at the edge of the field inspectors allowed Mr. Powell to ship from it provided his supplier began cutting at least 300 feet from the edge.

She said it was natural that inspectors would have to make sure the farmer had kept to this ruling.

Ms Thompson also said: "Quebec Balsam are supplying to his customers. He has an issue with that.'' Mr. Powell said: "I represented Gerry Couture, but then he got greedy and wanted to sell to everybody direct. But I have nothing against him.'' She added that Quebec Balsam were only shipping from sites totally clear of PNS and even then all shipments were thoroughly looked at.

However, Mr. Powell said inspection delays could cost him because if the Government team continued to work at the same pace, he could lose much of his stock.

He explained: "I have 15 containers with around 3,000 trees. I was told they are going to inspect the trees in the same way. They'll end up staying on the dock 'til Monday.

"But when they are closed in there is a composting effect on the trees and they start to cook.'' BUSINESS BUC