Former Attorney General Phil Perinchief yesterday launched into a verbal attack on outgoing Premier Ewart Brown — dismissing claims his tenure has been four years of action and execution.

In a lengthy and strongly-worded statement, the one-time close colleague of the Premier declared Dr. Brown's tenure a "self-centred, orgiastic and narcissistic flight of materialistic avarice and greed".

He accused Dr. Brown of bringing Bermuda to the brink of financial disaster, failing on black empowerment and turning the Progressive Labour Party into a new version of the 40 Thieves.

Mr. Perinchief — AG at the beginning of Dr. Brown's reign but sacked shortly after the 2007 General Election — said he now regrets his part in helping install him as Premier.

He also spoke out against the Premier's recent assessment of his spell in the top job, saying he is now blaming his own failures on groups like civil servants, bus drivers, taxi drivers and "slow Bermudians".

And he asked how Dr. Brown could claim Bermuda is not a welfare state when his own administration has introduced initiatives such as day care, college tuition and free bus passes. Predicting Dr. Brown will be remembered for his lack of good taste and manners, he urged: "May he have a speedy silent and unceremonious departure please."

Dr. Brown would not respond, but a Cabinet spokesman said: "The former Attorney General to Bermuda in his remarks sounds more bitter than an ex-wife."

At his Farewell Gala at the Fairmont Southampton earlier this month, the Premier stated: "Early in my term I pledged to move Bermuda from agendas and ideas to execution and action. "While we may disagree on my style of leadership and may disagree on what was accomplished and what remains undone, without a doubt this has been four years of execution and action."

And at his final Brown Bag Lunch last week, he said: "I knew I was bringing ideas I either picked up in Jamaica, Washington or California. I knew I was going to be considered arrogant. I expected resistance.

"Every day, going to work was like preparing for battle. Once we see progress being made, it frightens us. I think we tend to forget where we were and where we are now."