The new company operating the cement plant in Dockyard will not have to dismantle its two silos, Minister of Works and Engineering Derrick Burgess revealed in Parliament yesterday.

Only two weeks ago Mr. Burgess revealed Maxcem, the former Bermuda Cement Company (BCC), was the company that signed a contract with the West End Development Company (Wedco) to operate the plant until June 30.

The extended lease would allow the plant to remain intact until June, but Mr. Burgess had said a review of the terms would be done during that time.

Yesterday, however, in response to questions by the Shadow Works and Engineering Minister Patrician Gordon-Pamplin, about the future of these silos, Mr. Burgess said the plant could remain. He said: "There is no plan for Wedco to require Maxcem Bermuda Ltd. to relocate the silos at Dockyard. However, modifications to the Dockyard Master Development Plan may lead to a review of the situation."

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin followed with a supplementary question did he agree that previous owners were refused a lease because they would not relocate. Mr. Burgess said: "That's not a question. She is asking me to agree to something."

The Speaker of the House then clarified that Mr. Burgess did not wish to respond to the question.

In December last year, Jim Butterfield, former majority shareholder and six other shareholders, sold their portions of the cement company because Wedco required the BCC to relocate the silos.

As well as demolishing the two silos, the five years of protracted talks included rebuilding the plant on a new site, singing a 20-year lease and opening 20 percent of the company to the public.

Mr. Butterfield, however, estimated it would cost $12 million to $15 million to rebuild and therefore it was too expensive and made no sense with only a 20-year lease. In November, Wedco told the BCC shareholders the lease would not be renewed. The seven then sold their shares in December to three new buyers Dennis Correia, Christopher Shanks and Paul Simons.

Paperwork for the new owners of BCC was completed at the Register of Shareholders on January 25 and showed that Mr. Correia, husband of former PLP candidate Jane Corriea, was the majority stakeholder with 48,000 shares.

Giant cement manufacturer Cemex owns the second largest block with 46,353 shares and new owner Mr. Shanks has 10,800.

Michael and Anette Bierman retained the 5,622 shares and 3,815 shares they respectively previously owned. And Paul Simons owns 2,745 shares.

Meanwhile SAL Ltd. retained its 2,019 shares and Fiduciary Partners retained its 646 shares.

The BCCwas then renamed, according to the Registry of Companies to Maxcem in February this year, maintaining the same shareholders.

Mr. Butterfield, last night, said he was not surprised that Mr. Burgess had confirmed the silos would stay because it had been in the works before.He said: "It just shows how totally engineered this whole thing was. They have shrunk the shareholders, even though they wanted us to expand the numbers.

"There will be a discussion (with his lawyers)"Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin, said she thought it was frustrating that Mr. Burgess could make a decision to force one company out for certain reasons and then drop those requirements for others.

Speaking after the House yesterday, she said: "He just refused to answer the question. It just brings to mind what the Government is engaging is unfair practices.

"He needs to be prepared to answer the questions."