runs deeper than smells and cockroaches, Shadow Health Minister Mr. Nelson Bascome said yesterday.

Government chose the "most vulnerable area of the Pembroke basin'' for the operation, he claimed.

As a consequence, the stockpiling of horticultural waste and bits of cardboard at the site could cause "irreparable damage'' to the ecology of the area and one of the Island's major water lenses, he charged.

The 1987 Pembroke Marsh Plan "seriously warned'' about continued dumping on the perimeter of the Pembroke marsh because it would threaten the water resource, said Mr. Bascome.

The compost dump was adding to the "tremendous weight'' already sitting on the peat layer protecting the water lens.

The MP further said composting harboured rats -- as well as flies and roaches -- which all became more evident when machines at the site were turned on.

And the dust that comes from activation of the machines carried over to Victor Scott School and nearby residences, "creating havoc'' to water supplies and home maintenance.

However, Works Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira, who has dismissed the smell and bug claims as "utter nonsense'', last night denied the Opposition MP's claims.

He said the vegetation and other debris being dumped at the composting site were too lightweight to affect the peat layer.

He added that when he met on Wednesday night with the Victor Scott PTA president and principal, they were "saddened'' that the issue had been politicised.

And there was no mention of flies, roaches or dust being a problem, he said.

Dr. Terceira conceded there were two legitimate problems with the operation: the gates to it needed to be better secured and the composting machines were an annoyance. But he said he had agreed to secure the fences and operate the machines only in the morning before pupils started arriving.

Mr. Bascome stood by his claims. "The UBP Government in its unseemly haste to bring its composting scheme on line in the present manner has shown a reckless disregard of dangers stressed in its own reports and of previous statements made by the Minister of Works and Engineering and his technical adviser Mr.

Dan Hoornweg.

"The PLP cannot allow this continuing mismanagement to go unchallenged.'' Mr. Nelson Bascome.