Opposition Works and Engineering spokeswoman Patricia Gordon-Pamplin is calling for an inquiry into how hustle truck workers were exposed to asbestos while helping demolish the former Club Med site.

A stop order was placed on March 12 on work after asbestos was disturbed and Government admitted two days later, after a leak to the press, that mistakes had been made.

But Works and Engineering has remained silent ever since over who was responsible for supervising the site, what level of danger the workers were exposed to and whether an inquiry will be held.

Last night Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin called on Government to come clean.

She told The Royal Gazette: "There definitely needs to be an inquiry because I believe that everybody knew, or ought to have known, that there was asbestos at that site and all the necessary precautions should have been taken to ensure the workers were not inadvertently or negligently exposed to asbestos.

"They need to have a probe. You cannot send anyone and everyone down there."

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin, who is a certified asbestos abatement supervisor, said asbestos was a common component in buildings put up in the 1960s and 1970s and she fears the type used could be the chrysotile form which is dangerous and can cause cancer, even in extremely low does.

In its only press release on the subject Government had said the the asbestos was inadvertently disturbed.

Yet the hustle truck worker who had initially tipped off The Royal Gazette about the problem said people were aware asbestos was there and masks had been handed out.

Government have also failed to explain its policy on wearing protective clothing when there is a risk asbestos might be disturbed.

This newspaper had put in repeated requests to Government to answer a series of questions about the issue (see box below).

Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert did not return a call yesterday for comment.

Government had said the asbestos had been accidentally disturbed during the removal of loose fittings to clear the site for a new hotel and before a professional abatement crew had been hired.

Former health and safety inspector Harry Powell also called on Government to hold an inquiry.

He said: "If these guys were exposed they need to know and of course the employer better know because they are responsible if anything happens.

"Asbestosis doesn't happen overnight, they need to be properly tested and diagnosed to see if they are clear. It isn't an easy test. Someone knows what the product is and if it is the most dangerous. If it is safe just come clean and say it's safe.

"I feel sorry for these people, if they have ingested this stuff they could pay for it in 20 years but they will have forgotten by then how they got it."

And Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said she believed there is a gag order on those who might be able to inform the public what has happened.

"The government has a responsibility for the safety of workers on government sites, and failure to carry out that responsibility is tantamount to criminal negligence."

Were you exposed to the asbestos? Call The Royal Gazette on 295 5881 or email news@royalgazette.bm