Shadow Environment spokesman Cole Simons says asbestos dumpers are only following the Progressive Labour Party's lead.

Yesterday The Royal Gazette reported that asbestos had been dumped on Vesey Street, Devonshire near the nature reserve and equestrian centre. He urged people to follow official guidelines on handling asbestos.

Faecetiously saying he understand why the the illegal dumpers are "possibly not too concerned about the controlled management and disposal of asbestos, and the airborne friable particles," Mr. Simons explains "the community has to be forgiven, and should provided with additional support, as they are following the lead set by the Government with the Southside fiasco".

He adds: "They are following the standards set by the PLP when they were managing the development programme and the asbestos abatement programme at Southside.

"Almost three years later Parliament and the people of St. David's still have no report which gives a snapshot of the possible harmful effects of Southside fiasco."

Mr. Simons asked what had happened to the report on the asbestos at Southside sanctioned by the then Health Minister, Nelson Bascome.

Mr. Simons added that government "must not be duplicitous and arrogant" on the matter, adding: "If this government took this matter seriously three years ago when the Southside debacle occurred, and the public was kept in the loop, educated and was advised of their individual responsibilities then we possibly would not have the situation that we have today."