A construction company has taken out a writ against a local church.

The writ was filed by Sea-Land Construction Ltd. against the New Testament Church of God.

It was entered on October 25 by Wakefield Quin.

When Sea-Land was contacted by The Royal Gazette about the writ they referred all calls to their lawyer, Dennis Dwyer.

Mr. Dwyer was in court yesterday and could not be contacted.

However, the Rev. Goodwin Smith at New Testament said the legal action relates the cost of building the church.

He said Sea-Land Construction did the work but the church was not fully satisfied.

The church cost $7 million dollars to build, said Dr. Smith.

The church had paid off all of the money apart from a final $150,000.

"We have the money. But we wanted to hang onto it because we were not satisfied," Rev. Smith said.

He said that it was part of the original contractual agreement to hang onto final payment.

Sea-Land is disputing this provision and taking the church to court to get the money.

"Sea-Land put a date on us," Rev. Smith said. "We are trying to protect the church. We can afford to give the whole $150,000, but what if the subcontractors try to hold the church liable for the money Sea-Land owes them?

"So, we decided to put the money into the courts and let them decide. Sea-Land knows this and the first chance they got they put a writ out on us.

"They want their money in hand."