An American veteran is prepared to fly out to Bermuda to help the investigation into his claims lethal defoliant Agent Orange was dumped and burned at Kindley Air Force Base in the 1960s.

Ronald Slater, 64, of Washington State, wants to work with Government officials testing for poisonous dioxins he believes could still be in the ground at the former base today.

Yesterday, Works and Engineering Minister Dennis Lister downplayed the ex-US Air Force serviceman’s allegations that numerous barrels of the toxin were poured into deep pits before being burned for several days, sending thick smoke over St. David’s homes.

In a press conference, Mr. Lister said no evidence suggested Agent Orange was used on the Island.

However, Mr. Slater remains adamant that he played a role in the disposal of the chemical, along with other toxic wastes, by bulldozing the charred remains into the sea.

“If need be I will return to Bermuda and show locations and give testimony,” said Mr. Slater, who suspects his Type Two diabetes is attributable to exposure to Agent Orange.

“If Mr. Lister’s downplaying it, all I can say is this is what I understand I contributed to. All I can do is offer my honesty and integrity.

“I believe those photographs (which ran in The Royal Gazette yesterday) speak a thousand words. There was no way in hell the stuff they put in those pits was nothing but cardboard and wood.”

Mr. Slater said he would need someone to foot the bill for his 5,000-mile flight to the Island and reassurance that he would not face action over his part in the Baseland activities.

Works and Engineering Permanent Secretary Derrick Binns said he would be happy for Mr. Slater to get in touch.

“The most important thing is to go through his own Government, but we are not going to turn away someone who wants to talk to us,” said Dr. Binns.

Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Lister said: “The claims made by the US veteran are without foundation.

“Mr. Slater believes his condition has been caused by Agent Orange but he has not presented any evidence to support his claims that have been reported in the local media.

“Mr. Slater also believes Agent Orange was used in Bermuda. There is no evidence presented to support this. In fact, our evidence indicates that Agent Orange was not here.”

Mr. Slater says much of the herbicide soaked into the earth when the containers were emptied. Experts say if this happened it would remain a serious environmental risk today because the dioxins are so chemically stable they will not degrade over decades.

Mr. Lister said technical officers were urgently researching Mr. Slater’s claims and would report their findings to him in two weeks. He said soil samples taken when the US left the site showed no signs of contamination, while more tests at the time of any land transaction have also been negative.

Discussions with the Ministry of Health indicate no trend towards illness as a result of Agent Orange, he added.

During the 1960s, millions of gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed across parts of Vietnam by the US military. Many war veterans who have suffered ill health after being exposed to its chemical clouds have since claimed compensation from the US Government.

US Consul Gregory Slayton said America did not recognise Agent Orange had ever been used outside Vietnam.

“The Department of Defence has consistently said for the past 25 years that Agent Orange was not used anywhere except in South East Asia in the Vietnam War. They are absolutely standing by that position,” he said.

“Let me salute the Minister and his colleagues for getting right on this. It’s important to test and see what’s there.”

Mr. Slayton added that he had contacted the Department of Defence to request more information.

Bermuda is the latest in a string of countries where the US has denied using Agent Orange, including Panama and Puerto Rico, and parts of America including Hawaii.

US Airman says he can show where Agent Orange was burned