Health Minister Nelson Bascome hit back yesterday at claims Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) tenants are living in substandard conditions while Government fails to address their concerns.

Mr. Bascome took issue with an article which ran in last Friday's Mid Ocean News reporting that two different families were living in units infested with insects and worried for their health and safety.

He said that the families cited in the story have both turned down alternate accommodation offers while every effort had been made to help them find shelter. In a statement released by Government Information Services, the Minister said it is not Government's desire to discuss the private affairs of BHC tenants in the media but “it is important to have a balanced perspective on matters the media use to generate revenue”.

He added: “In order for the general public to be better informed, both sides of the coin have to be disclosed.”

The article cited numerous complaints from BHC tenants Dee-Ann Coke and Debbie (Steed) Williams and their families. Ms Williams even suggested Premier Jennifer Smith take time out from celebrating her 30th year in political service on the weekend to see how some of those who voted for her are living.

“While they're down there drinking champagne, we'll be sitting at home with termites flying around,” The Mid Ocean News quoted Ms Williams as saying.

The article said Mr. Bascome did not respond to faxed questions for comment by the weekly's presstime. On Friday, during the motion to adjourn in the House of Assembly, Mr. Bascome said the Mid Ocean News is the only newspaper that he would not return calls to.

“They don't have respect for people on this side of the House, and often don't have the facts about which they write,” he said.

In his statement released yesterday, Mr. Bascome said the Coke family was originally provided with accommodation on an emergency basis.

“The Bermuda Housing Corporation re-opened a residential unit that had been boarded up as renovation works were being planned for the building,” the statement said. “The building was and is need dire need of repair.”

The Cokes were given the apartment at a rent of $800 with BHC paying BELCO bills and land tax. Mr. Bascome said the BHC management hoped the Cokes would take the opportunity to “help themselves”, save money and seek alternative accommodation.

The statement continued: “In January 2002, Mr. and Mrs. Coke were offered a two-bedroom apartment in St. David's.

“However, they declined the unit stating that they wanted to be more centrally located.

“In March of this year, Mr. and Mrs. Coke were offered a unit in Middletown Lane, however, because of the size of their furniture, the unit was considered inadequate.”

Nevertheless, Mr. Bascome said the BHC management will continue to try and help the family find new accommodation and “thus help themselves”.

In the case of Deborah (Steed) William's family, Mr. Bascome's statement said they were evicted from a BHC unit in late 2000 due to “substantial rental arrears” which are still on the Quango's books.

Despite the debt, Mr. Bascome's statement said he did not want the family to be without accommodation over the holiday period and, at his insistence, the BHC provided emergency, short-term accommodation although the unit needed renovations.

In order to free the unit for renovations, the family was offered a three-bedroom apartment at Beacon Hill, Somerset in July 2001, the statement added.

“Unfortunately, Mrs. Steed (Williams) refused the unit stating that she prefers to live in St. George's. Again, the BHC will continue to try and locate a unit that Mrs. Steed (Williams) will accept.”

The Royal Gazette was unable to contact the Coke or Williams families for comment last night.

Mr. Bascome also offered the public an update on the situation of BHC tenant Winnae Wales-Lugo whose battle with her apartment's mould problems was highlighted in an article in this paper in April.

Mr. Bascome said Ms Wales-Lugo has turned down the offer of a brand new apartment at St. Monica's Road in Pembroke.

“The tenant felt the location was not conducive to raising her children owing to the drug activity in the area,” Mr. Bascome said, and he noted that many of the people that frequent the area are not from the neighbourhood, and he knows the people of St. Monica's Mission to be “law abiding”.