UBP MP Suzann Holshouser yesterday kicked off a crusade to protect her constituents from asbestos-related illnesses by showing the media how easy it can be to access a stockpile of the toxic waste.

And she challenged Government to hold its own Press conference showing that adequate security measures had been put in place. "I have every confidence that I will be invited back to survey the security measures that have been put in place."

Hundreds of containers of the substance, removed from the former United States Navy base-lands, are stored at a site on Southside. Ms Holshouser said that the gate to the area was not always locked, despite a huge sign saying it must be kept locked at all times.

Yesterday the media accompanied the politician through open gates to view the containers. The asbestos containers are in a separate barbed wire enclosure, but the one half of the gates to that area is broken. One container could be seen with an open door - which was shut by a reporter before leaving.

Many of the containers were shut tight but not padlocked. Ms Holshouser said any average Bermudian child would be curious about the asbestos wrapped in plastic bags inside the containers.

But handling the substance - some of which is the toxic "friable" type - can be deadly.

"The fact that the containers are there is not my concern. What is, is the security of those containers," she said. "I want to know that it would be extremely difficult for anyone having access to those bags and that would entail putting the gates back up and the locks on the containers."

She said while the asbestos was securely bagged, easy access to the area could eventually lead to someone indulging their curiosity and ripping open a bag.

"I'd rather be proactive rather than have some child come home covered in asbestos and their mother realises they have given their child a death sentence."

Ms Holshouser was elected MP for St. David's in the July General Election. Southside is the responsibility of the Bermuda Land Development Company (BLDC) and its workers are often seen using the area. Manager Patrick Jones could not be contacted for comment

Ms Holshouser reckoned media exposure would yield quicker results than alerting BLDC. More than 300 containers of asbestos are stored at Southside. And an estimated 400 containers of domestically generated asbestos are stored at the Government quarry at Bailey's Bay. Derrick Binns, the Permanent Secretary of the Works and Engineering Department, said yesterday that the Bailey's Bay facility was secure.