Health Minister Nelson Bascome has hit back at a Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) tenant who said she had a two year battle to get new accommodation and claimed her damp-ridden apartment put her family's health at risk.

Mr. Bascome said BHC had twice offered Winnae Wales-Lugo alternative accommodation for her and her family, but she had already refused one new apartment.

Ms Wales-Lugo, her mother and three children have been living in the two bedroom unit in Cedar Park, Devonshire - which she says is mouldy and water damaged - since March 2000.

She claimed she had continually alerted BHC to the problems of mould and damp, but nothing was done about it.

Mr. Bascome acknowledged yesterday that BHC was aware of the problems at the house.

But he said the corporation had twice offered Ms Wales-Lugo new accommodation.

He said BHC had recently identified a newly-constructed, never lived in, three bedroom apartment for the tenant and her family.

Last November, BHC offered to relocate Ms Wales-Lugo for two weeks to carry out repairs on the property, but she refused to move because she had just had a child and wanted time to settle with the baby, said Mr. Bascome.

This April, BHC offered the family a newly-built two bedroom apartment, but Ms Wales-Lugo turned this down because she wanted a two bedroom apartment for herself and two bedroom apartment for her mother, said the minister.

The Housing Corporation refused the request and has now followed this up with an offer of a three bedroom unit, said Mr. Bascome. "Generally, we do not have the type of flexibility to change accommodations for families as their conditions change," said Mr. Bascome.

"You need to realise that a decision related to one family affects other families who are looking for accommodation. However, given the circumstances, we have made this decision and we hope this solution will resolve the matter.

"We are trying to meet the needs of many families in Bermuda and we must use or resources wisely."Mr. Bascome said that although BHC was being investigated by Auditor General Larry Dennis (over allegations of corruption), people with complaints should send them to the acting general manager. Mr. Bascome said some media reports about BHC had "malicious intent".