Bermuda's response to people coping with AIDS was "disgraceful'' saying the majority of residents opened their arms to HIV carriers.

He believed there were only "pockets'' of people who "shamefully'' discriminated against carriers of the virus.

And there were certainly no hospital staff members refusing to bring food trays in to AIDS patients, he said.

Mr. Edness was responding to Health Watch co-founder Mr. Eugene Carmichael's claims that Bermuda's response to AIDS sufferers was a "national disgrace'' with HIV carriers being forced out of jobs and homes and even clergymen and health workers having cruel attitudes towards them.

But Mr. Edness said: "I can't let that (statement) go.

"A lot of people with AIDS in Bermuda get family and job support and are looked after.

"I have a great deal of respect for Mr. Carmichael and I will agree that the people he interviewed may have found themselves in such circumstances but I don't think you can take those people's cases and label all of Bermuda as uncaring.

"I have to say that generally speaking, Bermuda, in the community and in its health care services -- particularly the clinics, has compassion towards people with AIDS.'' Mr. Carmichael pointed to further proof yesterday of the stigma attached to the disease. He said a person whom he had never met came up to him in a restaurant as a result of his comments to the media and said he had been HIV-positive for more than a year but daren't tell anyone.

"That person is a dangerous and very lonesome person,'' Mr. Carmichael said.

"I'm not saying he has deliberately infected anyone, but no one knows he has the virus.'' Mr. Edness said he agreed more education was needed to ensure all residents understand the disease and have compassion for people coping with it.

"I agree there is still a great deal of stigmatisation but I want to recognise those who are enlightened and are dealing progressively with people with AIDS,'' he said.