The One Bermuda Alliance has slammed the Government for spending hundred of thousands of dollars on air-monitoring units less useful than units previously deployed.

Robin Tucker, the Opposition Leader in the Senate and spokeswoman on home affairs, questioned why the Government purchased the six units this year after slashing the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ budget last year.

The Royal Gazette has revealed that the department purchased six portable units at a cost of more than $215,000.

The equipment has limited capabilities — the units can only identify areas where more sensitive machines should be deployed to assess for breaches of pollution regulations.

The Government had previously operated three of the more sensitive machines, which cost $230,000, but they were scrapped last year because of budgetary constraints.

Last night, Ms Tucker questioned why the Government had ditched its three high-quality machines to save money, only to then spend that money on equipment of limited utility.

She said that proper air-quality monitoring had become increasingly important amid growing concerns about pollution on the island.

Ms Tucker said: “There have been numerous concerns raised to the Government about the need to appropriately monitor our air quality for potentially harmful emissions stemming especially from vehicle exhaust, the incinerator and of course the stack at Belco’s North Power Station.

“It is incredible that last year the government chose to cut $230,000 in funding for an independent air-quality monitoring programme jointly run by the DENR and BIOS, to this year finding the money to spend almost the same amount ‘saved’ on six air quality monitoring units that we understand do not meet regulatory standards.

“They will indicate where new ‘regulatory-grade’ monitoring stations will need to be installed. Is this doing the best to protect the people’s welfare and responsible spending?

“Air pollution continues to be a serious concern affecting all of us. It is incumbent upon the Government to ensure that the appropriate monitoring resources needed to protect our health are in place and that adequate funds are allocated for them.

“There is too much at stake for the Government to not get this right.”

• UPDATE: this article has been amended to correct that Robin Tucker is not the Shadow Minister of Home Affairs. Ms Tucker is the Opposition’s spokeswoman on home affairs in the Senate