6 Aug 2007

SPREP says getting rid of asbestos a problem for Pacific countries

1:38 pm on 6 August 2007

A pollution expert visiting the Cook Islands says disposing asbestos from the island Rarotonga may not be an easy task.

Dr Frank Griffin from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme in Samoa says he will also hold public meetings to address concerns over the health and safety issues that asbestos may cause.

He says getting rid of the asbestos is a challenge for all countries in the region.

"Do we develop technologies at great cost to the economies of the countries in the region, and deal with these problems or do we call on development partners to come in an assist us?"

Dr Frank Griffin