Shadow Environment Minister Gary Pitman has accused the Works and Engineering Minister of complacency for dismissing fears of floating junk in Castle Harbour as a recurring minor problem.

Pleasure boat captain Anthony Mello had claimed the rubbish was putting off tourists, threatening the marine environment, and creating a hazard to boaters.

But the Minister, Alex Scott, said Mr. Mello was a one-man band in raising the issue.

"It's more rare than not -- it depends on tides and surges,'' Mr. Scott said.

"It's nowhere near crisis point.

"On occasions rubbish does escape the perimeter -- a tin or a box. It's not any worse in Castle Harbour than anywhere along the coast. It's as clean if not cleaner as elsewhere because we police it more.

Trash is a `hazard' "We're not complacent, but it is unrealistic to say it won't happen again.

The water has turned muddy with pollution in most jurisdictions but here it is as pristine as you would expect.

"People are not continually complaining -- it's right across from Tucker's Town. If it was polluted, you would be hearing from the landowners in Tucker's Town.'' But Mr. Pitman countered: "That's because not many people are swimming at the moment.'' He called on Mr. Scott to take a look at the situation first hand before commenting.

Mr. Pitman said he had seen Mr. Mello's pictures which showed loose trash such as tyres which could easily be blown into the harbour.

He said: "It didn't look minimal to me. This is a continuous occurrence. I am shocked by his laidback attitude.

"I would be concerned about tourists who see the trash, concerned about the effect on the marine environment and the fact that large trash such as 40-gallon tanks could cause a major accident for boaters.'' But Mr. Scott hit back: "It's a 40 gallon drum. It wasn't 40 gallon drums.'' At Wednesday's inaugural meeting of the Open Spaces Committee, Government conservationist David Wingate expressed fears about the enormous environmental cost of the land reclamation.

He said: "It's going on at a frightening pace. Before we know it the land will be reaching Nonsuch Island which we are trying to develop for eco-tourism.'' The Minister refused to be drawn on when the project would be concluded. He said the aim of the reclamation was to provide a buffer zone for the airport which was barely above sea level.

He said: "Hurricane Gert took out a beach in Tucker's Town and destroyed the wall of a house. Storms are a very real threat.'' Mr. Scott said Mr. Mello was a lone voice in complaining about trash escaping the landfill site.

He said: "Tourists are totally unaware -- someone is trying to make a case where there is none.'' However, Mr. Mello hit back at this claim.

"My photos show lots of rubbish at the Blue Hole Park which is right by the Causeway on the way to the airport,'' he said.

"And if he says this is always going to happen then why don't they get the trash while it's still in the boom before it escapes?''