Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent is to hold a Press conference today to address a number of ?housing issues?.

The announcement comes after Mr. DeVent refused to answer questions all week from regarding the ongoing stand-off between the Ministry and the outraged residents of the Alexandra Road area.

Since the story first broke, repeated attempts by this newspaper to elicit a response ? including phone calls, emails and requests through the Department of Information and Communication ? have proved unsuccessful.

On May 19, 188 residents of Alexandra and Mary Victoria Roads in Pembroke sent a letter of complaint to Mr. DeVent accusing him of breaking his promise to consult with them before resubmitting plans for a controversial housing project in the area ? plans which were withdrawn in the face of vociferous protests in March of last year.

The residents objected to the original 34-unit housing development because of widespread concerns over the lack of space and what they considered the poor upkeep of the area in general by the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

Mr. DeVent made the pledge both in the House of Assembly and in a letter to the residents dated March 23, 2004, stating: ?I will honour my pledge to withdraw the [Planning application pending further consultation with you and your neighbours.

?I therefore invite you to work with me to address this critical issue that affects so many of our fellow Bermudians.?

Since then, however, residents claim there has been ?no consultation whatsoever? other than two memos from the BHC informing them of the intention to make improvements to the area?s roads and lighting.

Residents were then ?shocked?, according to spokesman Albertha Waite, to receive a letter from Mr. DeVent on April 12 stating that as ?most? of their concerns had been addressed, he had instructed the BHC to submit a new application for a 20-unit development.

Mr. DeVent has since claimed he did consult and that ?a series? of letters over the past two months had adequately communicated the Ministry?s intentions.

But Mrs. Waite responded that residents knew nothing about any such letters, challenging the Minister to produce proof of their existence.

She also said that a pledge to consult requires far more than the writing of letters and demanded Mr. DeVent withdraw the plans once more, apologise for going back on his word and sit down with them ?face to face?.

While the Ministry is rushing ahead to build more houses in the area, Mrs. Waite added, they continue to neglect a long list of grievances, including problems with guttering, sewage and faulty renovations.

Some of the questions has attempted to put to Mr. DeVent include:

? Why after the pledge to consult was made, was there no face to face meeting with the residents arranged?

? 188 residents have signed a letter saying they were not consulted. The Minister insists that he did consult. Are 188 people lying? Or are they exaggerating or mistaken or confused?

? What does the Minister understand by the word ?consultation??

? Does the Minister believe that the sending of letters ? which the residents dispute they ever received at any rate ? constitutes consultation?

? If the Minister could rewind the clock and return to March, 2004 when he made the pledge to consult, would he approach the situation in a different way?

? Will the Minister be withdrawing the plans once more as the residents demand?

? What has been done since the residents? letter was received by the Ministry to ensure their grievances are heard?