Opposition politician Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said she was not embarrassed by the revelation that her husband was banned from removing asbestos because of shoddy work, just hours after she attacked the Government for a cover-up over the Arthur Pitcher affair.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin told Friday's House of Assembly that contractors should be cited for flouting rules when removing asbestos which can cause cancer.

But a letter leaked to The Royal Gazette revealed her husband Dennis Pamplin, who is the boss of Island Steel Specialists, did just that while removing asbestos from houses in Southside while working for the Bermuda Land Development Corporation (BLDC).

Senior Environmental Health Officer Roger Mello temporarily removed his firm from the list of approved asbestos abatement contractors after complaining that its work was substandard, had disregarded Department of Health requirements and was done without a permit.

Mr. Pamplin admitted his workers did not use the proper asbestos dust traps but said he could not be blamed as he was away in America at the time of the inspection.

He said: "If it's wrong, it should be taken care of, but you can never tell me that I was doing something wrong myself. I was in New York.

"Some of my guys were doing work and I wasn't happy. But I took care of it by putting a new supervisor in.

"Roger Mello was right to give a warning, I went along with him as it was not me doing the work.'' He added: "I had my guys trained this year. If you look at my record you will find I have had more guys trained than anyone in the industry.'' He also claimed watchdog Bermuda Water Consultants had checked the job and found nothing was wrong.

"What I did was legal. This thing came about because they didn't want to pay me for doing the work.

"I requested they (inspectors) came out and checked stuff and I refused to finish it. I told my guys to leave it like that until someone came out to see it.'' And he claimed he had been targeted because of politics and because the BLDC did not want to pay him for his work because he had stopped.

He said: "Everything was clean. Powder was on the floor but it wasn't asbestos.'' Mr. Pamplin said he was unaware of whether he was back on the list of approved asbestos removers.

He said: "I better be back on that list. This is a political thing.

"Bascome is covering Pitcher's behind. They didn't want me to do the work down there because I'm on the other side.

"They don't go watching certain people. If they watch me, they'll have to watch everybody. I don't say I shouldn't be watched.

"I had a permit. I didn't ask for the job, I was doing something else.

"Some guys are getting away with murder but nobody says anything about it.

The whole industry needs policing.

"If my guys are doing something wrong they need to be jumped on. Roger Mello tries very hard to do his work properly -- he needs proper help.'' Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said: "I'm not embarrassed by this. I would be if I was personally responsible for this infringement.

"He hasn't actually bid for a job for an asbestos permit for quite some time.

"Two weeks ago he got a speeding ticket. I told him `you know what the law is, you must abide by the law of the land' and this applies equally to my husband or Arthur Pitcher.'' The UBP have urged the Government to stump up for doctor's bills to check if Mr. Pitcher's workers were all right after being exposed to asbestos.

Asked whether her husband should follow suit, Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said the firm would be covered by public liability insurance.