family fearing a major mudslide.

Brother and sister Mr. Carl Paiva and Ms Renna Lee Paiva -- whose two houses are divided by a small estate road -- are facing a tangled mass of trees, shrubs and tons of loosely packed dirt.

"This happened a week ago last Friday and I can't get anyone to respond from the Hamiltonian,'' said an angry Mr. Paiva. "I am really afraid that on the next rain the telephone pole, electric wires and mud will kill somebody if something isn't done fast.'' Former MP the Hon. Ralph Marshall, partner in the architectural firm of Marshall-Bernado, said his firm had been instructed by Hamiltonian owner Mr.

Harold Stavisky to effect immediate repairs.

"We have to get an emergency planning permit to do the work and find a suitable contractor,'' he said.

The Paivas claim they have had enough delay and have contacted their lawyer, MP Mr. Trevor Moniz.

Ms Paiva said she was "frustrated and angry'' at the run-around.

"We called the Hamiltonian and were told that resident manager Mr. Horst Finkbeiner had quit and his job was taken over by a Mr. Burgess who was in Boston.

"We called the Planning Department, Police and Belco, but nothing is happening,'' said Mr. Paiva.

Local building contractor J.B. Lopes was contacted and cleared the blocked roadway, but refused further work unless specifically assigned by the architects.

"Mr. Lopes told us he wouldn't do the work unless he was paid in cash or assigned by the architects,'' said Ms Paiva.

Despite reassurances that the wall will be repaired, the Paivas are not taking any chances.

In their letter to Mr. Moniz, the Paivas pointed out that the two family homes and apartments are "facing a grave situation''.

The letter added: "We are now looking at a wall of loose dirt, rubble and vegetation that will surely collapse onto our property as soon as the rains come.'' TROUBLE COMING - Brother and Sister Carl and Renna Lee Paiva grimly survey a mound of soil above their homes at Ocean Lane in Pembroke.