The demolition of Southside homes will continue after the new Government conceded the work could not be halted.

Apartment blocks, which were deemed unsafe, will now tumble to the ground unabated as the PLP looks for alternative accommodation for emergency housing cases.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome and Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister confirmed the Bermuda Land Development Company programme -- which began months ago -- would continue at a joint press conference at Southside.

Had the project not been so far advanced and had the infrastructure remained at the apartment blocks, the demolition may have been halted, the pair hinted.

The statement was made after they had toured the site with BLDC officials, who pointed out the inadequacies of the homes.

And they were shown buildings that had main services taken out and the rooms which had been gutted, leaving them suitable only for demolition.

"We have come to the conclusion that the process can't be stopped and the opportunity for temporary, emergency housing in these structures has been lost,'' said Mr. Lister.

"This is not what we hoped for, but this Government will work to establish temporary housing.'' He said they would explore other sites, including Tudor Hill in Southampton and revealed there would be a review of the plans to renovate and lease out 54 three-bedroom homes at Southside.

The initial plan was to lease out the homes, when completed, to Bermudian families via mortgage incentives promised by the former UBP Government.

Mr. Lister added: "We are going to evaluate existing programmes and take a good hard look at what the thinking is behind them and how we will develop that.'' Mr. Bascome said there was scope for rental units to be made available to low-income families.

"We would have reversed the process (demolition) if we could have done,'' he said. "We have several Bermudians who are homeless, even if we could have used the blocks temporarily, we would have.'' The Health Minister said they were currently working with the Bermuda Housing Corporation to allievate some of the emergency housing cases.

But he said there was a need for landlords and other property owners to work together to help those without adequate accommodation.

SOUTHSIDE HEAP -- Government Ministers Terry Lister and Nelson Bascome watch as heavy equipment kocks old housing at Southside.