One of the bidders for the contract to run Stonington Beach Hotel has called on the Department of Tourism to disqualify two rivals for alleged conflicts of interest, The Royal Gazette has learned.

Mega Contracting Services has complained about bids from Bermuda Resort Hotels (BRH), and another understood to have been submitted by former Elbow Beach general manager John Jefferis.

Tourism has just taken over responsibility from Bermuda College for running the hotel, and has drawn up a short-list of bidders to the run Stonington.

Mega Contracting Services, which has not yet been incorporated but involves at least two Bermudians with links to American hotel and food companies, has complained that BRH president Billy Griffith sits on the Bermuda College board and is involved in the Tourism Board through his role as president of Bermuda Hotel Association.

Last night Mr. Griffith strongly denied any conflict of interest. He said he had no role in the decision-making process over the awarding of the contract and he had openly declared his involvement in BRM to the college.

The contract will be awarded by a joint Tourism and Education Department committee and does not involve Bermuda College.

The Mega Contracting Services letter also complains about Mr. Jefferis, although it misspells his name and wrongly describes him as the "partner" of Mr. Griffith.

Mr. Jefferis, who is thought to have submitted a rival bid, resigned as general manager of Elbow Beach in 1997 and now runs the Coco Reef Resort in Tobago.

The letter, which wrongly describes Mr. Griffith as general manager of `Harmony Hall' - he runs the Harmony Club - does not explain why Mega Contracting services thinks Mr. Jefferis has a conflict of interest.

Mr. Griffith told The Royal Gazette last night: "I am concerned there is too much attention paid to Billy Griffith in the process of the awarding of the management contract for Stonington Beach.

"I happened to be employed by BRH and that has made a bid for the management contract at Stonington Beach. BRH is not owned by Billy Griffith and this is not a dual of Billy Griffith and John Jefferis.

"I sit on the Board of Tourism because I am president of Bermuda Hotel Association and to my knowledge, there is no inside track to Stonington Beach through the Tourism Board.

"I have sat on the board of Bermuda College for the past four years as a result of my contribution to the hotel industry and having been invited to do so.

"I have stated clearly and officially that I am employed by BRH and as far as I am concerned, I have properly recused (withdrawn) myself from any dealings Bermuda College has had with respect to Stonington Beach.

"I have not been involved in any discussions, decisions or selections and therefore I have no conflict of interest.

"John Jefferis has no connection to BRH, and is not part of our bid to run Stonington Beach.

"BRH submitted a bid and had no idea who the other bidders for the management contract were.

"We have no knowledge whatsoever of where the decision-making is at this stage and we are awaiting the decision of the authorities."

Mega Contracting Services, which has a PO Box address in Hamilton, lists John E.D. Soares as "President and Second Chief of Operations".

The other Bermudian is Robert Wilson. The men told The Royal Gazette they are partners with Montibello Foods in North Carolina, and Southeast Hotel Management, which is involved in Super 8, Days Inn and Howard Johnson chains.

The Mega Contracting Services letter to Director of Tourism Judith Hall Bean states: "Since Ministry Tourism (sic), Ministry Education(sic) are the final decision-makers of selection of a management Contract, we are not comfortable with Mr. Griffith, Mr. Jeffery (sic) involvement in this project.

"We believe our Partner Montibello Foods; LLC will not receive favourable consideration. Therefore we ask you to disqualify Mr. Griffith, Mr. Jeffery (sic) from their participation in Stonington project."