Cabinet Minister Nelson Bascome staged a dramatic turnaround yesterday when he announced that three teenagers who admitted the $1.3 million arson of Harrington Sound Primary School will not be sent abroad for psychiatric testing.

The Health and Social Services Minister said on Thursday that the three male youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, would be sent abroad for testing after they were committed for two years to an approved society.

But he reversed his decision yesterday, saying that it would be more cost effective for the assessor to conduct the testing on the Island. He said he anticipated the testing would take place within the next two weeks.

The decision also came just prior to applications being filed by the lawyers of the three boys which seek to prevent the Minister from sending them abroad.

The three were sentenced on Wednesday to two years in an approved society having admitted lighting fires which caused $1.3 million damage to Harrington Sound Primary School in Smith's last February.

But the three have not spent a single night away from home since the sentence was handed down, and still remain with their parents. The director of the juvenile home handed the three young men into the custody of their parents as the facility was full and was not equipped to handle arsonists.

Lawyers Mark Pettingill, Saul Froomkin and Delroy Duncan spent most of yesterday preparing the documents and by late afternoon had filed applications for an order prohibiting the Minister from sending the boys out of the Island.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bascome is also said to be eyeing property at Southside with a view to relocating approved society Observatory Cottage. Keith Swan, chairman of the Child Care Placement Board, said Mr. Bascome was in talks with the Bermuda Land Development Company for a suitable building on the former Baselands to house the current residents of the juvenile home, together with the three arsonists.

"We are looking for emergency accommodation that will be adequate for our needs,'' Mr. Swan said, "and we think that within the next few days we will have secured a suitable building at Southside.'' Mr. Swan noted that a building which can house up to 18 boys, would be appropriate.