The Minister of Works and Engineering has refuted claims the new Police Station and Court building will run $18 million over-budget.

Derrick Burgess admitted the final figure was likely to exceed the current TAF (Total Authorised Figure) of $78 million due to "incomplete" drawings plus redesigns to comply with PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act 2006) legislation.

However, he said he had previously stated, "the overspend would be kept to less than $10 million".

"It will certainly not be anywhere near $18 million. I don't know where that figure came from," said the Minister yesterday.

He also refuted claims there had been a change of plan in that the Police Command Centre is not to be housed in the building.

Mr. Burgess said: "The VSB news item stated that 'many of the main Police and court functions for which the Court Street Police and Court Building was originally designed have been removed…. and that the latest to go is reportedly the Police Command Centre which had been earmarked to move into the new building'.

"Let me state clearly and emphatically that all of the functions originally planned for the new building remain. In fact, more have been added.

"There was never a plan to house the Police Senior Command in the new facility, which was designed to provide a state-of-the-art alternative to the old Hamilton Police Station on Parliament Street. There is a plan to effect a much needed improvement in the Police Headquarters facility at Prospect."

Mr. Burgess said the North Building will house five Magistrates Courts plus offices. Government offices for the Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce and Ministry of Environment and Sports will also be located there.

The South Building will house the Department of Court Services and other Court/Police premises, as well as the Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.

Mr. Burgess said the South Building was added to the original complex after Government bought the land at the corner of Church and Court Streets.

"From the outset, the South Block was intended for use by other Government Departments," said the Minister.

"The top floor of the North Block housing the courts was an add-on also, as Government seized the opportunity to provide additional general office accommodation in Hamilton, a cost-effective alternative to the rental of expensive private-sector office space in the City of Hamilton.

"The additions of general office space in no way compromised or altered the original intentions of the building."

Mr. Burgess said the building would be ready "in early 2011".

He said he was unaware of claims that one Government Minister has asked for a private bathroom to avoid having to share with staff.

Deputy Opposition Minister Trevor Moniz said last week he understood a request had been made for the building to be fitted with "suites with private bathrooms so Ministers don't have to share with someone else".

We asked Government to comment on the claim last Tuesday, but did not receive a response last week.

Yesterday, Mr. Burgess told the press conference: "I haven't heard of that from any Minister."

Commenting on the new Hamilton Police Station and Court building project, he said: "There is nothing to hide, there is not one thing to hide in this Ministry."