BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

The St Kitts main opposition People's Action Movement (PAM) yesterday called for an "immediate and unfettered police investigation" into the collapse of a bridge last week that resulted in the death of St Vincent and the Grenadines-born Akil Tony.

"The collapse of that bridge was not an accident...it is in fact the result of gross negligence on the part of persons responsible for the design and construction of the bridge," charged PAM leader Lindsay Grant.

The authorities said that Tony was killed last Wednesday when the bridge that forms part of the new multi-million West Basseterre Bypass Road collapsed.