St. George's will get a five-star hotel even though the development world has "come to a standstill", said Premier Dr. Ewart Brown.

The hotel, to be built on the old Club Med site by developer Carl Bazarian, has caused some concern because building hasn't started.

However, speaking at a PLP Town Hall meeting at Penno's Wharf, St. George's, Dr. Brown assured St. Georgians that it will happen.

"The promise has been made to the community to develop a five-star hotel and as far as we're concerned, that promise is being kept. The development world has come to a standstill."

Dr. Brown continued: "Financing is at an advanced stage. Final documents [are] to be signed in July.

"That will secure all of the funding both from the investment side and the debt side. These documents will be signed next month."

The Premier said the golf course will also be developed but will be finished after the hotel.

He added Nick Faldo had signed a contract.

Speaking on housing at Southside and the reopened St. George's Police Station, Sen. David Burch said: "In relation to the Southside housing, you will see that things are coming out of the ground."

He said while he realised the process has been "painful", it has cost $3 million before a building was even constructed.

Sen. Burch said this is because while digging, a large tank was found that the US never told Bermuda about before they left the base.

"But we are very much on target now and what we have done is that we will build in phases." Sen. Burch said the first of the 58 units would be available for lottery winners to move into in May of next year.

The rest of the units would be ready by the end of the year.

Asked by an audience member why lottery winners had a longer lease and better interest plans than other Southside homeowners, Dr. Brown said: "You raise a very relevant issue. If there is an uneven playing field then you should express what you expressed so clearly in a letter and if I were you, I would address it to both ministers because in order to fix it for you, we will fix it for everybody."

The minister also spoke about the Police Station and said they are aiming to get to operating 24 hours a day once training of officers is completed.

Audience members expressed their concern at not seeing Police officers around enough in St. George's and said they didn't feel the Police presence.

Asked if he thought it was a good idea to have all Bermudian Police, Sen. Burch said he preferred a mix.

"The Bermudian can say 'Hey bye' and call you by your name and sometimes get you to address your behaviour so if you have the two together, it can work."

Minister of Works & Engineering Derrick Burgess said the Longbird Bridge would take two to three years to build and cost around $100 million.

He said his ministry had to decide if they were going to work with the current bridge or create a whole new one.

Mr. Burgess also said there is also the issue of hurricanes but added the bridge that they are looking to construct would be high enough for the fast ferries to go under.

Panel for the meeting also included moderator Dame Jennifer Smith and MP for Constituency 4 Lovitta Foggo.