Thousands of tonnes of asbestos stored on Bermuda's shores are to remain on the Island "for years''.

Environment Minister Harry Soares revealed Bermuda was now holding 525 shipping containers jam-packed with the deadly dust.

He promised health and safety experts were carrying out regular checks to make sure the asbestos was not a danger to the public.

But he said the huge stores of asbestos would have to stay in Bermuda into the next century -- because they will not be dumped at sea.

The retiring MP also hinted Government could be ready to commit millions more dollars to a pioneering project to process the asbestos and make it safe.

And he said more and more asbestos was being found all the time, safely sealed in plastic bags and then added to Bermuda's ever-growing stock.

Each 20-foot container can hold up to 20 tonnes. But asbestos -- linked to cancer -- is a light substance, weighing much less than the giant boxes can hold.

The containers -- 260 at the quarry in Bailey's Bay and 265 at the old US Navy base at Southside in St. David's -- still store thousands of tonnes. Mr.

Soares, MP for Paget West, told The Royal Gazette that environmental experts were constantly monitoring the containers to meet strict US-type green standards.

"There are basically two different lots of asbestos in Bermuda,'' he said.

"The quarry is holding Bermudian asbestos.

"Southside has asbestos from base-related activities and the US military.

"There are on-going negotiations with the US Government about how to deal with that asbestos.'' He said Premier Pamela Gordon and Finance Minister Grant Gibbons were involved in the talks with US officials.

"There is no danger to the public or to the environment,'' said Mr. Soares.

"Both lots have been repacked in double plastic bags and they are all intact inside the containers.'' Asbestos to stay on Island `for years' Scientific studies have supported dumping the asbestos at sea. But Mr. Soares said he had ruled that out as an option, "because doing the right thing isn't always enough''.

He added: "The people have to accept it as the right thing. It's my feeling that at the present time, that would not be appropriate.'' Government has also decided against burying the asbestos in Bermuda. They have been negotiating with overseas governments who may allow the asbestos to be imported -- but top civil servants are worried about the legal consequences for Bermuda in case of mishaps. The most likely solution is to build a new hi-tech thermo-chemical processing plant.

Government technical officers have already been on two fact-finding trips to a prototype plant in Washington State.

This year's budget made provision for $1 million to be reserved to rid Bermuda of asbestos. Now officials are watching to see how successful the plant is before making a final decision.

Mr. Soares added: "We are going to have the asbestos here for a few years at least.

"But it's constantly and continuously being monitored. And we have files on this new process which are two and three inches thick.

"We're always staying up-to-date with the most modern technology.

"The $1 million was set aside for this year. There could be more money reserved as we plan for the future. The only drawback with this thermo-chemical plant is that it's very expensive. It's millions.'' St. George's South MP Rick Spurling, who has constituents living near Southside, said he was confident the asbestos was safely stored. He said: "The people who dispose of it as it is found are specialists wearing masks and protective clothing.

"I don't think there is any reason for fear as long as it is being contained properly.'' Harry Soares