Premier Jennifer Smith issued further assurances yesterday that Government would keep a Police Station in St. George's - but the Opposition said Government was being contradictory over the issue.

Ms Smith said Cabinet had decided in January 2001 to keep the station in the East End town but Shadow Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin demanded to know why Government was only now thinking about refurbishments if that was the case.

The Premier said in a joint statement with Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith that it had always been the intention to retain a St. George's sub station despite the building of a modern Police facility at Southside.

She said Government was working on making the Southside station a reality as quickly as possible while modernising the St. George's base.

Premier Smith said: “To this end I have asked the Commissioner of Police to work with the Ministry of Works and Engineering on the refurbishment and to provide Cabinet with a number of options describing how best this may be achieved.

“Options may include details of resource needs, operational costs and renovation costs.”

The Commissioner added: “Much of the groundwork has already been accomplished and we should be able to announce detailed plans for a Police sub-station in St. George in due course.”

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin attacked Government for dragging its feet over the issue and she wondered why the Police Commissioner said in a letter to Senator Kim Swan that the current station was obsolete and “did not lend itself to refurbishment on a cost effective basis”.

She said: “Why is the Police Commission only now, 18 months later, being asked to work with the Ministry of Works and Engineering to offer options to complete both Southside and the refurbishment of St. George's station as it was clear in June 2001 he had no direction from Government as to their commitment to retain the St. George's station?

“To top it all, why were the people of St. George's left in a state of flux for some three weeks after the Peppercorn ceremony before being advised that the decision affecting their safety was taken 18 months ago. This state of affairs defies credulity.

“If a January 2001 decision was taken, why was the Minister of Public Safety telling the public in February 2002 that there would not be a station in St. George's?

“Why does the Premier's statement not include a statement from that Minister indicating he had mislead the public?

“Why was the Mayor of St. George's not given the courtesy of knowing this information?”

The Premier said St. George's has historical significance and played a crucial part in the island's tourism industry.

She said: “A permanent Police presence is vital to the continued protection and wellbeing of the town and it has always been our goal to preserve this.”

In April a crime wave hit the old town with cars being torched and Police vehicles attacked.

Yesterday Sen. Swan handed in a 1,467-name petition to Cabinet demanding the station be kept.

The Premier's statement also fails to address questions faxed to her by The Royal Gazette on the day of her announcement at the Peppercorn ceremony nearly four weeks ago that Government would keep a Police station in St. George's.

Despite assurances from Government Information Services they would be answered the Premier has been silent. The questions were:

1) Today (April 23) you spoke of keeping a police presence in St. George's after the offices are refurbished. There are 46 officers there currently. How many (or what proportion) of the Police compliment will be stationed at St. George's after the refurbishment is complete?

2) When will the refurbishment be completed?

3) When will the Southside station be completed and how many officers will be stationed there?