The Hon. Quinton Edness hopes to have regular lunch-hour talks warning workers about AIDS.

He plans to target all job sectors, from the construction industry to the international business world.

He also wants to train staff in dealing with questions about AIDS and the virus that causes it.

"If we can do this, we can reach a substantial proportion of people and help them protect themselves and their children against AIDS,'' Mr. Edness said.

The proposal, which he put to the Chamber of Commerce this week, was part of his drive to "treble our efforts in the fight against AIDS this year''.

And educating people in the workplace was a major initiative, he said.

The workplace was made up of a number of young people and parents who could go home and discuss the subject with their children, he said.

The number of new HIV cases had doubled in the past year.

And according to statistics "young people are driving this epidemic by getting infected'', he said.

"And that is happening because people are still refusing to change their lifestyles.'' Education was "the only tool'' against the deadly disease, he believed.

Mr.

Edness added he thought people would respond better to information given in the workplace, rather than elsewhere.

"And with more AIDS education in the workplace we can promote a better understanding of the disease and reduce the fear and stigma attached to a person with AIDS.'' Other more controversial initiatives the Minister has thrown his support behind have included the consideration of free distribution of syringes to drug addicts and supplying school kids with condoms.

Mr. Edness told MPs during an AIDS debate he initiated in Parliament last month that the number of new HIV cases was up an alarming 57 percent.

There were 21 new cases in 1992, and 33 in 1993.

And to date, 213 residents have died of the killer disease.

Chamber of Commerce executive vice president Ms Carolyn Mello said members would be meeting with the Minister next Thursday.

Numbers attending the meeting would depend on work commitments, she said.

But Chamber officials were happy to discuss the idea further, she said.

"This meeting is a preliminary step to seek the cooperation of employers in helping develop the initiative of preventing AIDS by educating the workforce,'' Mr. Edness said.

The Ministry would help employers who want to take part in the plan to set up AIDS education programmes and talks and to train staff to talk to other workers about AIDS.

Mr. Edness said he believed employers would be receptive to the idea.