unsafe -- and allegedly illegal -- building at his own home.

The Royal Gazette recently revealed that Senior Building Inspector Gerald Tuzo was renting out a mould-covered, insect-infested apartment to tenants. Mr.

Tuzo refused to respond to the allegations.

But after receiving tips about illegal building and unsafe construction at Mr.

Tuzo's Devonshire home from several independent sources, The Royal Gazette took photographs of the residence.

Although there was no conclusive evidence of any illegal building taking place, photos revealed a second-storey balcony with no barrier railings which clearly seemed to indicate some form of safety hazard.

And Mr. Tuzo's former tenant, Shane Simmons, went on the record stating that Mr. Tuzo admitted performing illegal construction work in the area near the apartment that Mr. Simmons was renting.

"He told me that if Planning knew what he was doing on that hill, they would never have allowed him to continue or do it in the first place,'' said Mr.

Simmons.

"I saw him using a cement mixer to build a stairwell further down the hill -- he's also got a patio with no railings at all at the house where he's living,'' Mr. Simmons pointed out.

"And I also overheard workers saying that they brought materials from another construction site.'' "They said the materials were unsafe, and should've been taken to the dump,'' he added.

When The Royal Gazette attempted to look at the file for the residence, it was missing for at least two days.

Planning official under fire Apparently the card attached to the file which indicates who signed it out was also missing.

Planning director Brian Rowlinson yesterday said he was unaware that Mr. Tuzo w as living at the residence until told by The Royal Gazette -- since it is listed under his sister's name, Geraldine Price.

But Mr. Rowlinson claimed that nothing foul was afoot at the Tuzo residence.

He said the residence had had a partial occupancy certificate since 1995, which means that people can live in the house until the building is completed "in due time''.

But when asked if a three-year time lapse was considered "due time'', Mr.

Rowlinson admitted that Mr. Tuzo had waited too long to complete the building.

"Normally, we don't run around policing these things,'' Mr. Rowlinson said, adding that residents are expected to complete the work and notify the Planning Department.

Mr. Rowlinson also admitted that the existing rail-less balcony did not comply with the building code, but insisted that Mr. Tuzo was not breaking any laws by using the balcony.

"He has been instructed to have the barrier erected by the end of the month, and as far as we're concerned, that's the end of it,'' Mr. Rowlinson said.

However, a Planning employee told The Royal Gazette that an occupancy permit barred the occupants from using the door which was photographed wide open.

Neither Environment Minister Harry Soares nor Mr. Tuzo -- who has refused to answer questions -- were available for comment yesterday.

DANGER ZONE -- Senior Building Inspector Gerald Tuzo's second storey balcony, which has no railings. According to one Planning official, the door, shown open, is not supposed to be used until the railings are erected.