Bermuda Emissions Files Civil Lawsuit Against Ministry Tourism & Transport

Bermuda Emissions Control Ltd (BECL) has filed a civil lawsuit against the Ministry, the Minister of Tourism and Transport, and others after their contract was terminated earlier this year.

The writ was filed in the Supreme Court in November.

Respondents include Vernon Tucker, Roy Dennison, Craig Smith, Edward Harris, Willoughby Richardson, Mike Watkins, Arthur LaSalle and Winifred Butterfield – all said to be former employees.

You may recall that the Transport Control Department started conducting the work in February after the firm lost the contract in January.

At the time, a Ministry spokesperson said most of the team would be offered employment under the new arrangement, which was said to be a cost-saving move that would save the Government $400,000 a year.

BECL was awarded the multi-million dollar contract without a tender process back in 2009 to do emissions testing.

The initial five-year contract was later extended on a short-term basis by the former One Bermuda Alliance administration, and was last renewed for one year in 2018 by the Progressive Labour Party administration.