Management at Bermuda General Agency (BGA) were staying tight-lipped last night over an alleged dispute in which 20 workers were ordered to leave the company's Pembroke warehouse.

New BGA owner, Wendall Brown could not be contacted last night, and several people close to the company refused to comment on the issue.

VSB News reported that 20 workers were ordered to leave the warehouse on Mill Creek Road in Pembroke after heated talks between management and shop stewards broke down.

It was also reported that the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) was expected to step in as the workers were members of the union.

But BIU president Derrick Burgess also refused to comment on the issue when contacted last night.

Mr. Brown bought the company from businessman, Ward Young in December and is believed to have paid in the region of $12 million for the business.

No comment on job cuts Included in the BGA group of companies is the Phoenix Group which has a virtual monopoly on the Island's pharmaceutical trade.

The sale was closed through the Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Ltd., but The Mid Ocean News reported that an "overwhelming majority'' of the firm's directors, who are customarily provided with details of all such eight-figure transactions, were never told such a deal was pending.

However, the Bank's board of directors later put its weight behind the Bank's management and issued a statement saying they supported their CEO, Calum Johnston and the management team.

They said they would never have been consulted on such a loan as a matter of policy.

Mr. Brown runs at least three other successful businesses, the Sunshine Gas Company, Triple Crown Racing as well as the Sung Sing Chinese Restaurant, all located at the corner of Victoria and Court Streets.

BGA President and Chief Executive Officer, John Tomlinson refused to comment on the matter last night.