The Island is suffering from a severe shortage of concrete blocks which is delaying construction projects, contractors told last night.

Small contractors, in particular said they cannot compete with larger competitors in the quest to obtain block to meet their commitments.

With both major concrete producers damaged by Hurricane Fabian, the Island has suffered a production backlog.

?I?ve been in the business for 15 years and I?ve never seen both the two major concrete block producers run out,? said Cesar Oliveira, who owns and runs Cesar?s Construction. ?As quick as they?re making it, they?re selling it.?

But, at Bierman?s Concrete Products ? the largest concrete block supplier ? owner Mike Bierman maintained yesterday that Bermuda?s concrete shortage is not a particularly severe one.

While his company was severely damaged by the hurricane and lost almost two weeks of production, he said the shortage is temporary and it existed immediately after Fabian but is being felt more acutely now.

As construction crews have finished repairing roofs ripped apart by the hurricane they are returning to regular construction, he said, and the shortage of concrete block is suddenly being noticed.

But, Mr. Oliveira said, even before the hurricane there was a huge boost in construction on the Island which spiked demand at a time when supplies were low.

?There?s so much work right now,? he said. ?I can?t say it?s because of Fabian. Walls didn?t blow off, roofs did.?

Construction companies were aware that plants at both Bierman?s and SAL had broken at one point, causing the the suppliers to get backed up in their block production.

And last night Mr. Bierman said that steps have been taken to ensure the shortage will be sorted out by early January while Jim Butterfield of Bermuda Cement Company confirmed there is no shortage of supply to make the blocks.

?There?s plenty of cement,? he said. ?The problem is the damage caused by the hurricane.?

But concern is growing among those waiting for concrete blocks.

?I don?t even see how they?re going to catch up right now,? said Mr. Oliveira.

There are already two-page waiting lists, and despite the companies giving out schedules warning when block would be ready, Mr. Oliveira said the product was being sold almost before it was made.

Smaller companies are the ones suffering, he added. ?The larger companies can send ten trucks, they can afford to wait in line and they take all the block at once,? he said. ?It?s quite frustrating. It?s amazing, what we?re going through right now.?