Environmentalists are calling on Government to keep its word and introduce vehicle emission limits.

Legislation setting out acceptable levels of air pollution has yet to be tabled in Parliament, even though millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money has been paid to a private company to carry out testing for the past five years.

Two years ago, while in Opposition, Senator Michael Fahy claimed it was “very important for Bermuda’s environment and indeed public health for there to be proper emission controls,” adding: “So let’s get on with it!”.

Stuart Hayward, from Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST), said yesterday: “We are very disappointed at the delay in setting and monitoring of vehicle emissions in Bermuda.

“When the new ‘emissions centre’ was proposed, the public was assured that data collected during its first two years of operation would provide benchmarks for emissions testing of two and four-wheeled vehicles.

“The public has been severely let down in that not only are exhaust emissions being left unmonitored and unregulated, but other aspects of Bermuda’s environmental health related to vehicles are being neglected.”

Mr Hayward claimed the testing of motorcycle noise levels seemed to have stopped.

“Judging by the noise emanating from some of the bikes that travel on our streets, the traditional limit of 93 decibels is being ignored and unenforced,” he said.

“Limits on emissions and noise aren’t just regulatory randomness. They are intended to protect people from ill effects of pollutants and ear-damaging noise levels.

“Besides the potential for injury to health of local residents, there is the negative effect that pollution and noise levels can have on Bermuda’s attractiveness to tourists.

“Even if adherence to emission standards is phased in, that would be better than no standards at all, which is the current state of affairs.

“We can see no justification to delay any longer the setting of vehicle emissions standards and putting into place a phasing timetable, if necessary, and an effective enforcement regime for pollutants and noise.” Gordon Johnson, executive director of Greenrock, said emission standards were important and the organisation supported Government in “creating a policy and enforcement structure in our community”.

“They currently have the testing structure,” he said. “We believe it is time to move in a direction of cleaner air and water in Bermuda by adopting and enforcing minimal standards for the benefit of all residents and guests.

“As our Government holds the data on all the cars, bikes and trucks they have tested, publishing it will assist our community in understanding the value of supporting the implementation of standards, procedures and enforcement.

“We encourage them to be open about the process and share their timelines for implementation.”

This newspaper revealed yesterday that Government had extended a contract with Bermuda Emissions Control Limited (BECL) to conduct safety and emissions testing at the Island’s three test centres.

We asked the Ministry of Transport to share with the public the data collected on emissions since April 6, 2009, when the testing programme began, but received no response.

We also asked to see the contract with BECL and asked Government to confirm that a $2.2 million line item in this year’s Budget under the Transport Control Department’s expenditures referred to the BECL deal.

We received no answers, with a spokesman saying only that Government was reviewing an option to renew the BECL contract.

BECL’s initial five-year contract with Government, awarded without being put out to tender, expired earlier this year.

A BECL receptionist at the Hamilton testing centre confirmed yesterday that the company was still conducting safety and emissions testing of all vehicles.