Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell last night blasted Government for not resolving the West End bus dispute - which could cause major disruption for passengers on the inaugural visit of the Carnival Legend today.

More than 3,000 passengers and crew arriving in Dockyard today will have to use ferries and minibuses to get to Watford Bridge because bus drivers are refusing to drive along narrow Pender Road.

The dispute has being going on for three weeks, with minibuses transferring passengers between Dockyard and Watford Bridge.

Mr. Dodwell said Government should have sorted the row out before now, and claimed the passengers and crew on the inaugural Carnival Legend visit from Philadelphia would now be left with a bad impression.

"This is the first visit of Carnival and we should be making a great first impression, but instead we have blotted our copy book," said Mr. Dodwell.

"It is a damn shame, and I hold Government accountable for not resolving what should be a simple problem.

"Here is a chance for Government to get itself together for this first visit and it really upsets me this has not been sorted because of the inconvenience this will cause when we should be trying to impress Carnival."

The drivers are refusing to go along Pender Road because they say it is too narrow and dangerous, and they have not agreed to exit Dockyard along Freeport Drive until it has been resurfaced.

Captain John Moore of Meyer Shipping, Carnival's Bermuda agents, also expressed disappointment that the dispute had not been resolved.

Bermuda Industrial Union President Derrick Burgess said last night: "I don't want to get into Dodwell's political rhetoric.

"There is a problem and we are trying to sort it out as soon as possible. We don't want to inconvenience tourists, locals or anyone, we just want to make it safe for everyone.

We have been going back and forth with proposals and we are just waiting for the Ministry of Works and Engineering to do something else, but I am hopeful that any day we will have a settlement."

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said Works and Engineering was taking the lead role in resolving the dispute.

"It is my understanding there is a plan to handle the weekend load," he said last night.

"I don't know if the dispute has been resolved but from a service standpoint, I understand we are ready to go."

When asked if he wanted to respond to Mr. Dodwell's criticism, he said: "No"

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott could not be contacted for comment last night.