A five week supply of cement will arrive in Dockyard today to help ease the drought ? with another batch set to arrive on Saturday. It comes a week after the Bermuda Cement Company?s (BCC) silos ran empty due to exceptionally high demand before a price increase took effect and also an error in a supply order.

To get things moving again the company?s staff will work around-the-clock assisting with the discharge of cement.

But part of the problem, according to BCC president Jim Butterfield, is the uncertainty surrounding the future lease of the cement silo site, which is under discussion through the quango the West End Development Corp.

Mr. Butterfield claimed last week that a black Bermudian said the difficulties he was experiencing was because he is a white Bermudian.

Works and Engineering Minister Sen. David Burch has dismissed any suggestion of racial prejudice and said it was for the BCC to look into and deal with why a wrong cement order has been made.

He said the Government and the BCC had entered into an agreement last December to plan out the future of the cement plant and its lease, which has currently been extended for one year.

Sen. Burch said this process was ongoing, adding: ?The only thing that is different is that they (BCC) have got wind that they have got some competition and last week?s outburst can only be a demonstration of fear ? fear of having to play on a level playing field.

?I read in the media that it was reported that a black man told Mr. Butterfield that he was being discriminated against because he was white.

?I?m a black man and I?ll tell you that I?m not discriminating against him because he?s white or discriminating against him at all.?

Sen. Burch continued: ?I?m here to tell you, the competitor is white. We are prepared to talk to anyone who comes and makes an offer, that?s what the new Bermuda is all about. I have no personal view of Mr. Butterfield and his company whatsoever. They are in the business of cement and have been for 40 years. I would think that with that track record they would be able to take ? and wipe out ? all comers, particularly new comers.?

The former commanding officer of The Regiment also challenged anyone to find a single white soldier who served during his 20 years who would say he had shown any discrimination towards them.

Late this afternoon the cargo ship MV carrying 6,700 tons will arrive, while another 5,000 tons should come on Saturday to help fill the twin silos.

BCC president Mr. Butterfield said bulk deliveries to Bierman?s, SAL and Tynes Bay to get readymix and block plants back in action will be the priority. After that supply bags will go through the normal channels. He added: ?Once again we apologise to the community for this most regrettable situation.?

Bierman?s Concrete Products is to apply for planning permission for storage for 6,000 tons of cement after company bosses lost patience with the uncertainty hanging around Bermuda Cement Company?s lease.

Mike Bierman CEO of Bierman?s ? and a BCC shareholder ? said: ?We want to be masters of our own destiny.?

He said staff had taken time off in recent days after the shortage.

?There was still no word on whether BCC will get a lease extension from December,? said Mr. Butterfield. ?We are not sure where to turn.?

The company has complained to the Ombudsman about the situation but has had no response.