An Island-wide shortage of roof slate should be alleviated within days. At yesterdays' Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) press conference, Public Safety Minister Randolph Horton said warned that Government would "name and shame" businesses which take advantage of the shortage by price gouging.

"We have been made to understand that there has been some (gouging) and we certainly sit here tonight asking all employers to be as responsible as our people have been in this country in order to help us move to normalcy," Mr. Horton said.

He invited residents to report such practices to the Consumer Affairs department.

Government's stockpile of slate has been released already - and prioritised for schools - but plans are afoot to bring some more onto the Island through the private sector.

Mr. Horton said that Government has had no requests for emergency housing related to damage caused by hurricane Fabian.

"What we've done is look at the situation in relation to tarpaulins and we are I think in a good position to ensure that all those in need of tarpaulin will be taken care of."

Premier Alex Scott said that if businesses demand exorbitant prices for slate, residents need only wait for additional supplies to arrive.

See related story in Business, p. 33