protect the Island's animals unless possession of the compound is also made illegal, a veterinarian said yesterday.

Dr. Maureen Ware, who has been campaigning for paraquat to be banned since 1982 because it has been used to poison dogs, said Government should be lauded for finally banning the herbicide.

"It's a small step for the Government of Bermuda,'' she said. "But a gigantic step for the animal population.'' Moreover, she said there have always been alternative herbicides that could have been used a long time ago.

"The interesting thing will be to see whether there is the will and ability to enforce this ban.

"Marijuana is illegal, heroin is banned too. So is cocaine. Enforcement is the key word.'' Last Thursday, Environment Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons said the popular weed killer that has been used to control weeds in banana groves, will no longer be imported because it has also been used to poison dogs.

In its place, Government has tested the herbicide Relay because it is not taken up by a plant's roots which makes it an effective form of weed control.

However, Dr. Ware said that if Government was serious about protecting animals there already were anti-cruelty laws and other legislation through which prosecutions could have been made.

Dr. Ware said Government now had another problem because there were many farmers who had stores of the weed killer on their property.

"What will (Government) do about all the stuff that is in circulation at the moment? There are many small farm holdings with bottles of this stuff and it will be like this for many years to come.''