asbestos-laden buildings at Southside were illegally demolished.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome announced more than three weeks ago that his officials would find out if the law was broken when workers employed by St.

George's South Progressive Labour Party MP Arthur Pitcher knocked down the buildings at Texas Road.

Mr. Bascome said the on-going inquiry was "exhaustive'' and that he was unable to say when it would be completed.

Mr. Pitcher flouted established planning guidelines by not getting a permit from the Planning Department for the demolition of the asbestos-contaminated buildings.

By law, the Health Department must be informed of any asbestos demolitions, but it is not known if this happened.

Several eyewitnesses told The Royal Gazette that most of the workers employed by Mr. Pitcher had no protective masks during the demolition and that the asbestos was taken away in open trucks.

Mr. Bascome said his department had agreed to a request from several St.

David's residents that their water tanks be checked for traces of asbestos.

He told MPs that the asbestos at Southside was of the low-risk non-friable variety, but admitted neither residents nor workers should have been exposed to any risk during the demolition.

He said: "My officials are still getting information and we have a few more interviews to do.'' The buildings were flattened to build 20 low cost housing units for Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC).

The Development Applications Board (DAB) told The Royal Gazette two weeks ago that the BHC application had been approved, despite overwhelming objections from St. David's residents.

The residents said the land was designated for community use and they objected to one fifth of the 100 BHC low cost houses being concentrated in one area.

Mr. Bascome said he could not comment on the DAB decision yet because neither he nor BHC had been given an official letter confirming the outcome.

But he said: "Based on the meetings we have had with the residents in the past, I would not rule out having another set of meetings when we get official confirmation.''