continuing dock dispute.

"The way the press chose to write me up, well I guess that's their prerogative,'' said BIU president and Government MP Derrick Burgess.

"But certainly I never said there was going to be a general strike.

"But I did say that we are a Union that has a motto `United we stand, divided we fall'.

"And certainly all our members are concerned about the issue, I guess I did say that.

"How you perceive that, I can't answer for the perception of that.'' Mr.

Burgess also repeated his call for an independent review of smouldering dock problems.

The latest dispute stems from the controversial promotion of an employee which was allegedly not based on seniority.

But Mr. Burgess added he saw no conflict between his roles as leader of the Island's largest union and Government representative.

"We're not embarrassing the PLP this is not against the PLP,'' said Mr.

Burgess.

"My commitment to the PLP is unconditional, it will always be that way and it always has been. And my commitment to this union is the same.'' "You're only getting the end result (of the dock dispute),'' he continued.

"Certainly we have tried even harder than before to sort this out but to no avail.

"Although it's a new Bermuda there will be some out there that will try to test you and make you think you can't do it. We can do it.'' Mr. Burgess also denied dock workers were performing a "go slow'', but last night an upset customer told the The Royal Gazette an unofficial go slow was taking place.

The customer, who asked to remain anonymous, said he was attempting to ship time sensitive materials from Miami.

BIU's Burgess eases general strike fears But his goods have been forced to sit in storage in the US as containers and ships backed up locally.

"I was told by three of the Bermuda agents -- Bermuda Ocean Shipping Services, Bermuda Forwarders, and Fast Forward Freight -- that the dock workers only started unloading last week's shipment today,'' said the man.

"They're running a week behind. My shipment has been detained for two weeks.

"If they continue working at the rate they're working, then I can't get it for another four to five weeks.'' Now the importer has been forced to make a costly decision.

"I'm going to fly to Miami and collect my goods and bring them back by air,'' he said.