It was a graphic and highly effective way to illustrate a problem. Mould experts brought to Bermuda to conduct court-sanctioned testing of Hamilton Police Station said they found conditions so bad in the building that they immediately left to put on breathing masks before continuing their investigation.

If what they claim is true, it is very worrying on a number of counts.

The first, of course, is that conditions in the Police station are dangerously bad and the health and welfare of the Police officers using the building is at risk. Full credit must be given to Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva and his senior colleagues for immediately ordering testing of their own.

That testing will be carried out by Bermuda Water Consultants, whose own testing in 2007 revealed such a panoply of problems that a full range of remedial actions were recommended and were supposed to be carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Works and Engineering.

The question now is, if the US experts' allegations are true, were those steps taken and if so, why have they not been enough?

If the recommendations were not implemented, then that suggests gross negligence on the part of Government and a likely legal victory for Policeman Emmerson Donald, whose lawyer brought in the experts on his behalf.

For the sake of the public, it is to be hoped that's not the case. It will result in a hefty cost to the taxpayer and will also suggest the Government has little interest in the welfare of its own employees.

Help at last

The news that a "statement of intent" has been signed with a UK mental health trust to enable prisoners with severe mental health problems to be sent to England for treatment is welcome news.

A statement of intent is just that, and it is now essential that formal arrangements are now agreed.

But it is a step in the right direction and can't come too soon.

Of course, it came too late for Lorenzo Robinson, who killed himself in Westgate after not receiving the mental health counseling he knew he needed. And it came too late for American visitor Scott Jable who was stabbed by Mr. Robinson in the streets of Hamilton just hours after the latter was literally thrown out of Westgate in spite of the fact it was obvious he was mentally ill and dangerous.

Avoiding further tragedies of that kind is critical, and that's why it is vital that Health Minister Walter Roban and his officials in the Health Ministry and the Hospitals Board get this agreement formalised as soon as possible.