Shadow Environment Minister Gary Pitman has demanded to know what Government is doing to remove Bermuda's discarded asbestos.

He said before the Progressive Labour Party came into power in November 1998, it promised to rid the Island of the scores of container loads of the deadly dust oversees where it could be dealt with safely.

But he said two years down the line, Bermuda is still hoarding the containers of asbestos at the Works and Engineering Quarry, near Castle Harbour, putting people living nearby in potential jeopardy.

The United Bermuda Party MP said: "More than two years ago, MP Ottiwell Simmons said the PLP was a green Government and planned to ship the asbestos overseas.

"But here we are, two years on, and they have done nothing to get rid of the scores of containers down there.

"There are hundreds of them stored at the quarry and they are dangerous.

"Some of the containers look old, meaning the wind, rain and rodents can get into them. The substance needs to be removed from the containers and put into new, sealed containers, at the very least.'' Mr. Pitman said before the last election the UBP had talked about taking the asbestos and burying it out at sea, however, it never materialised as the plan faced opposition from environmentalists.

But he said at the time, the PLP were adamant their proposal was better - to take the dust to a country that had proper disposal facilities for asbestos.

The opposition MP added: "It's quite disturbing to see the containers stacked up five deep.

"I am sure the people living in that area would be concerned if they were aware of it.

"All of this asbestos has been taken from old buildings around the Island for safety reasons. It should now not still be sat there. If inhaled, it would be dangerous.

"The very minimum Government should do now is remove the old containers and replace the asbestos into properly sealed boxes to prevent a disaster occurring.''