Bermuda Security Group General Manager Bill Black is looking on the bright side after losing out on another contract.

His firm has lost the cruise ship terminal contract, which he estimates to be worth around $350,000 a year, to Safeguard International Security Ltd.

Last month the $1 million-a-year airport contract, which his firm (formerly known as Islandwide Security) had handled for the last six years, was awarded to rivals Guardwell Security Services. Last night Mr. Black said his firm had pulled out of the airport work after the government dithered on who to award the new three-year deal.

He said: "Let somebody else have a go at it and see how good they are." And asked about the loss of the cruise ship job to Safeguard he said: "It was one of those things. They awarded it a couple of weeks ago.

"We have been doing it for the past couple of years but we weren't awarded the contract." He added: "You only worked when the cruise ships were there. It wasn't a great contract." Winning bidders Safeguard International Security Ltd. are now advertising for seaport security police for the contract, which will run from July 1 to October 31 this year.

Mr. Black said his firm had a hard core of clients which the business was based on.

The bidding for airport contract sparked controversy when Guardwell refused to allow The Royal Gazette to view the company's register of directors and shareholders.

The company only relented when legal action was threatened.