Belco could face prosecution by the Attorney General after an investigation into the catastrophic fire.

Speaking in the House of Assembly on Friday, Health and Family Services Minister Patrice Minors said Government had a responsibility to see if Belco was in contravention of the Health and Safety Act 1982.

?Where contraventions are identified, the Occupational Safety and Health Office will send its file to the Attorney General for consideration for prosecution,? Mrs. Minors said. ?In the case of Belco, the Bermuda Government has a responsibility to conduct a full investigation to determine the root cause.?

And the Health Minister said Belco employees could face punishment in Magistrates? Court if found guilty of failing to discharge a duty, or contravening any safety and health regulations. ?Because of the technical nature of this incident at an electrical generation and transmission power plant, arrangements are being finalised to employ the services of the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) of Ontario, Canada,? she said. She said TSSA?s team of safety engineers will conduct a full investigation including a ?comprehensive health and safety audit of the entire facility?.

At the end of this exercise, she said, Belco?s ?weaknesses and strengths? would be identified.

TSSA provides a variety of safety services for the Ontario Government, she said, and regulates the industry standards of safety in several sectors of industry.

But TSSA has already been in contact with Belco, this year, she revealed, saying in April, 2005, TSSA president and CEO Kathy Milsom met several Government Ministries as well as Belco to conduct an assessment of Bermuda?s safety systems.

?They have submitted a proposal seeking to work in partnership with Government to develop a world-class safety system,? she said.