Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott said he was disappointed that a statement on the future of St. George's Police Station had still not been released - but promised all questions would be answered soon.

He apologised that the statement he promised to The Royal Gazette last week had still not materialised but said something "bigger and better" would follow soon.

Mr. Scott said last week that he and Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith would hold a press conference or release a statement about the confusion over the refurbishment and closure of the Old Town's station.

And he said if it was not held last week, he would be very "disappointed".

However, the meeting never materialised, and on Friday Mr. Scott said perhaps he had been a little too hopeful.

He said: "Yes, I'm disappointed. But now there are going to be three of us making a joint statement; myself, Labour and Public Safety Minister Terry Lister and the Police Commissioner.

"I'm glad the three of us are working on this, but I'm disappointed we could not get it done during the week.

"But it will be a bigger presentation, and the folks will get all the answers they want. So, while I'm disappointed we did not do it (last week), it will be more comprehensive than at first expected. I suppose it will be bigger and better, yes."

And although Mr. Scott was hesitant to put a deadline on the statement, he said he hoped it could be sometime this week.

Confusion over the future of St. George's Police station arose three weeks' ago after Premier Jennifer Smith announced that the old station would not close down for good, as people had been led to believe.

Both Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith, Labour Minister Mr. Lister, St. George's Mayor Henry Hayward and residents were under the impression that once the old dilapidated station closed later this year, and a new east end division opened in Southside, that would be the end of the building, as far as the Police was concerned.

The people of St. George's, who were campaigning to keep a Police station in the heart of the Old Town and had collected more 1,500 names on a petition, were told a Police presence would remain in the town, but in what form, no one knew.

However, at the annual Peppercorn Ceremony last month, the Premier did an apparent U-turn by informing the community that the old station would be refurbished and re-opened for Police business, with the Southside station acting as the divisional headquarters.

She said that had always been the case and people had merely been misinformed from the start. She said Government had simply chosen not to correct the misinformation.

A number of people have called for Government to come clean on what is really set to happen in St. George's.

They wish to know how many hours the old station will be in operation every day, attended by how many officers, and from when.

And United Bermuda Party Senator Kim Swan, who launched the petition, said he is still planning to present it to the Premier in the coming weeks, so she fully understands how people feel about the issue.