Shadow Housing Minister Wayne Furbert is urging Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent to reconsider bringing in portable homes for emergency housing.

Mr. Furbert told yesterday that Hurricane Charley?s devastation in Florida should give the Minister pause for reflection.

The hurricane has killed more than a dozen people ? many of them mobile home dwellers, according to reports.

?I am hoping the Minister of Works and Engineering will reconsider after hearing the number of deaths that have occurred from mobile homes and start building homes that are more structurally sound and we would not have to worry about hurricanes that come up overnight without forewarning,? Mr. Furbert said.

?My heart goes out to the people in Florida. Are we willing to take the risk of putting people in harm?s way, knowing the danger we would be putting people in and knowing the impact it has had on the homes in Florida??

Mr. DeVent is considering importing five to ten units costing about $20,000 each, but has promised they would be temporary.

He said the portable homes measure would be quick and they are easy to erect but that he was just considering all the options.

But Mr. Furbert has criticised the plan, saying he was concerned that the portable homed will become permanent.

?We call them trailer homes. If they can be moved then a hurricane will move them,? Mr. Furbert added yesterday.

?(Hurricane) Emily (in 1987) came up overnight and no one knew it was coming.?

Mr. DeVent could not be reached for comment.