Dozens of St. David's residents may suffer asbestos-related illness in the long term and Government is downplaying the matter, according to an Opposition spokesperson.

Kim Young, speaking as Shadow Minister of Health last week, said that an overdue report on asbestos handling should give specific answers and not an overall picture.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome has said that a comprehensive report is being worked on following allegations that a contractor had improperly handled the cancer-causing substance at a Southside site last year.

Mr. Bascome had originally promised a probe into whether any laws were broken. But he told The Royal Gazette last month that the report was going to be a comprehensive one and promised renewed enforcement of asbestos abatement laws.

That's not good enough, says Mrs. Young. "Just how long does it take for an investigation into whether any laws were broken at the specific project on Texas Road?

"Why is Government dragging its heels on this?

"The people of St. David's and the employees involved in the debacle of the removal of asbestos from the site on Texas Road need some answers. How has their long term health been affected and who is responsible for their medical treatment in the years to come should they become ill with asbestos related illnesses? A report on the general handling of asbestos will not console these people. They need a report on the investigation into the handling of the asbestos on the specific site on Texas Road, St. David's."

Asbestos has been linked to some forms of cancer in humans and its use for new developments is banned both here and in the United States.

Government backbencher Arthur Pitcher had secured a contract to build a 20-family development at the St. David's site but the project has been plagued with controversy since it began.

Work came to a screeching halt in June 2000, when allegations were made that Mr. Pitcher's crews demolished asbestos-ridden homes at the site without wearing proper protective gear and left the hazardous material lying on the ground and in open trucks next to Clearwater School.

The following month Health Minister Nelson Bascome announced a government probe into whether any laws were broken. But he played down the risk to the health of workers and said there was no need for a public inquiry.

In August 2000 it was reported that the first draft of the inquiry's report had been completed by Department of Health officials, and the Opposition United Bermuda Party called again for the report to be made public in March and in October this year.

Mr. Bascome's response was to remind the public that Mr. Pitcher's workmen were only alleged to have mishandled the asbestos, and that four companies had been working at Southside.

He said his technical officers are working on a comprehensive report which will cover a time frame of about five years and identify companies that had failed to follow guidelines.

Mrs. Young told The Royal Gazette that talk of comprehensive report amounted to putting a 'spin' on an issue where lives could be at stake.

"It seems to me that the issue of the long term health of these individuals has been downplayed," she said.

"Those affected need answers in written form for the future, should they show signs of disease caused by exposure to this asbestos debacle."