someone is killed.

And local MPs Mr. Nelson Bascome and Mr. Ottiwell Simmons are helping their constituents prepare a petition to resolve their problems.

The residents fear that if a serious incident occurs in certain areas of the estate, fire engines and ambulances will not be able to get access.

Apart from narrow and steep roads in areas like South Terrace, there have been cases of roads collapsing on the estate.

At a meeting with local residents on Thursday night, Mr. Bascome said: "There are problems with access roads to houses on the estate. Several lanes are inaccessible to cars. Very rarely can you get a fire engine and ambulance down them.

"You have some steep hills which are close to 45 degrees, some may be even steeper. I have already heard of one case of a man being dropped from a stretcher.'' The PLP MP said Government had spent around $500,000 on two roads in the area but pointed out that the money could have been better used on improving the whole area.

Speaking to the residents, Mr. Simmons said: "You are living in what used to be the ghetto area where poor people would live. Everywhere else there were eight to twelve foot wide roads to carry horse and carriages.

"People should have a proper access to their properties, they all pay their taxes like everyone else on the Island.'' Mr. Bascome said: "Some people are willing to give up two, three of four feet of their gardens to widen roads on the estate.'' Resident Mr. Ralph Bassett Sr., of Friswells Hill, said that roads in East Pembroke should be the best on the Island because people on the estate had been subjected to a decade of tipping in Pembroke Marsh.

Mr. Bassett said: "We need the Government to come here to fix the roads, the lights and to keep the place clean.

"If they want people from this estate to continue to treat the tourists with respect then we should be treated with the same respect. You cannot expect someone in a dungeon to come out to work in a hotel and treat the guests with respect.

"There appears to be only one road in Bermuda as far as the works department is concerned and that is South Shore Road. There are two separate Bermudas and even two separate Pembrokes.'' The two MPs have promised to continue to put pressure on the Government to visit the estate and look at its problems.

When the petition is ready it will include not only the appeal for road widening, but improving roads which flood, improving lighting, cleaning and cutting back overgrown hedges.

Mr. Simmons said he realised that the Government faced financial restraints but said the situation in East Pembroke was becoming critical.

Works and Engineering Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira said he will look at the resients' problems when he has the petition.

Dr. Terceira said: "We really need signatures from 75 percent of people living on the roads on that private estate. Anyone can sign a petition but if they get 75 percent of names then I can look at it.

"We have already carried out work on roads in the Friswell's Hill area and people there are very pleased. We will continue scheduled work on Self Lane when money is available.'' Dr. Terceira said the Government would meet the cost of any improvements if the rateable value of homes is below a certain figure.