Union leader Mike Charles claimed last night that Government was failing to keep teachers informed of the results of air quality testing at the Island’s largest public school.

Mr. Charles, general secretary of Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT), told The Royal Gazette he had repeatedly asked the Ministry of Education whether tests had been carried out at CedarBridge Academy since it reopened in January after a two-month closure due to mould infestation.

“I have been asking the question and so far I can’t get any definitive answer,” he said. “I’m just a bit frustrated that we can’t get anybody to tell us if the school has been tested since it has been cleaned and whether there are any results from the testing.”

A Ministry spokeswoman told this newspaper that tests had been conducted at CedarBridge but that the results had not been received by Government yet.

She added: “The Ministry of Education, Sports and Recreation is committed to ensuring that teachers in all of its schools are able to work in optimal conditions. CedarBridge Academy is no exception.

“As part of an ongoing plan to examine air quality in schools, a specialist is scheduled to arrive on the Island in the very near future and will be conducting tests in all Government schools.”

Mr. Charles said the lack of communication exacerbated a feeling among teachers that the Ministry was not concerned with their wellbeing.

“It goes back to the feeling that the teachers have that nobody cares,” he said, adding that constant re-testing of the air quality at the school would be the “sensible thing to do” following its sudden closure last November.

“It should be tested once a month at least,” he said. “If, after six months or so, it shows that the quality is being maintained then we could go to longer periods. But right now there are no results as far as I know and that’s a problem.”

Education Minister Randy Horton shut the Devonshire senior school and launched a massive clean-up operation after teachers alleged that they were falling sick due to widespread mould.

This week, the school’s BUT representative reported to Mr. Charles that teachers were complaining that they were still becoming ill due to the environment there.

“What she has reported to me is that a number of teachers, other than those affected before, are reporting respiratory problems, losing voices, difficulty breathing etc. Evidently, a couple of people from the administrative offices went home sick today.”

He said the union was seeking legal advice on what action the teachers could take. “If it’s not safe or the teachers feel it’s not safe, what is their recourse?” he said. “I have had a word with our lawyers but it’s not going to be a yes or no answer.”

He warned that the Ministry faced angering teachers by refusing to talk to them. “The frustration is rising and when people get frustrated they tend to do things they wouldn’t normally do.

“Unless their anxieties, their frustrations, are addressed something is going to happen. I don’t know what. I won’t even hazard a guess at this time.”

The Ministry admitted this week that several teachers had reported health concerns since January but said none had confirmed that the problems were mould-related.

Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson raised the issue in the House of Assembly yesterday. “I understand there is still mould in the CedarBridge school,” she said. “I understand this mould was cleaned with air scrubbers, bleach and water. I want to let you know that within itself is a dangerous thing. Bleach thrown around and used is very, very damaging to the lungs.”

Shadow Education Minister Neville Darrell added: “If there’s a re-infestation of mould, we need to know the international agencies [which had been called in to clean it last year] will resume work at no cost to the people of Bermuda.”

The Ministry spokeswoman said no reports had been received of staff being sent home yesterday due to air quality concerns.