worst enemies,'' according to Works and Engineering Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto.

The Minister claims Government is doing everything it can to help the six tenants of Clarence Terrace in Dockyard.

But Sandys North MPs have called for more Government assistance for the disgruntled tenants.

Shadow Finance Minister Mr. Eugene Cox has accused Government of "herding'' the residents to Government property on Boaz Island.

Residents of Clarence Terrace and Gilbert's Green were informed in the mid-1980s that they would have to find new accommodation because their homes were on land which will be included in the new prison's outer perimeter.

Some of the tenants have lived in the area upwards of 35 years and local MPs Mr. Cox and Shadow Youth Minister Mr. Dennis Lister say Government offered to help them relocate.

Out of the original 10 properties affected by the eviction, four families have moved on and found new homes. But the remaining residents have refused to move because they say they cannot afford to or are unhappy with what is being offered.

Mr. Cox said: "We met the Ministers and they made certain promises. They seemed to be reluctant to address issues concerning the residents. They seemed prepared to exclude them and work independently.

"We seek to include them. We seek the politics of inclusion rather than the politics of exclusion.

"The Government is attempting to force these people out of the area. They are herding them or corralling them out to Boaz Island.'' Mr. Lister said the PLP was not using the residents as political pawns but were responding to their problems.

"Out of all the promises and commitments made by the Minister none have been honoured,'' he said.

"We felt it was necessary to reactivate the Dockyard Housing Committee. It is not being political when you ask the tenants to speak up for themselves.'' He called on the Premier to "do the right thing'' for the people who are facing eviction.

The Minister, in a press conference immediately following a PLP press conference yesterday, pointed out that the tenants were paying unrealistically low rents of $365-385 per month for homes which all have two or three bedrooms.

Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said: "The PLP is saying that the Government has failed to live up to its commitment to assist these people by finding alternative accommodation now the 11th hour is approaching.

"I can assure you that the estates division has done everything in its power to assist as well as social services and housing allowance.

"Unfortunately some of the help offered by technical officers has been regarded as harassment. It is a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't. The tenants are their own worst enemies in some cases although the Dockyard Housing Committee has caused problems.

"I hope that with time, good sense and rationale a solution will be found.'' Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said that Government could not house the tenants in houses in Dockyard because they did not belong to Government they belonged to the West End Development Corporation.