A funeral home has led fresh calls for a crematorium to be established in Bermuda owing to the increased demand for cremations.

Amis Memorial Chapel has acknowledged a significant rise in the number of requests for cremations by people in Bermuda.

And funeral directors say that an on-island crematorium would also be a wise move in light of the Ebola outbreak that has now affected the United States.

Martha Amis, grief counsellor at Amis Memorial Chapel, told The Royal Gazette: “We have seen a noticeable increase in cremation requests in the last six months. In previous years, we would get maybe five or six per year, but now we are getting that many per month.

“At present, bodies are taken via Air Canada to Toronto and then transported to New Jersey for cremation.

“That is the most affordable option open to people in Bermuda at the moment.

“We have drawn up plans to build a crematorium in Bermuda and are in talks with various parties.

“The problem that we face is that nobody wants a crematorium in their backyard.”

Mrs Amis believes that a Bermudian-based crematorium could also avert potential problems should the Ebola virus or any other communicable disease reach Bermuda.

“At present, if we were to have a case of Ebola or any communicable disease, we would not be allowed to fly the body to the US for it to be cremated,” she said.

“And, of course, we do not have a crematory here. That could pose difficulties for the undertaker and the community.

“We are working with the health department to ensure that funeral homes are provided with adequate information and protective clothing given the nature of our work.”

The question of building a crematorium in Bermuda has been a topic of debate for many years.

But some funeral homes feel there is not the demand at present to merit the development.

Colin Pearman, of Pearman Funeral Homes, said: “An increase in the number of cremations has been a trend we have noticed in recent years. But the number has still not reached the level whereby it would make the construction of a crematorium profitable.

“If this trend increases, however, there will be a need for such a service in Bermuda. But at this time it is difficult to tell when that will be.”

Raymond Augustus, of Augustus Funeral Home, added: “We did look at the idea of a crematorium in the past, but it was difficult to find a facility for the service.

“The numbers are not that big that would merit a crematorium at present.”

The Ministry of Health says it plans on talking with funeral homes in light of Ebola cases in the US.

“The Department of Health plans to schedule a communication and education opportunity with funeral directors and environmental health officers,” a spokeswoman said.