It has been more than four years since Hurricane Gert slammed into Bermuda in September, 1999, forcing Dolphin Quest to abandon its old facility on the South Shore at the Fairmont Southampton Princess for the more sheltered location at Dockyard.

However, despite planning agreements stating if no dolphins were in the old facility for more than six months the shoreline on the property leased by the Fairmont Southampton Princess would be restored to its pristine condition, the old facility is still standing.

Legal responsibility for the dismantling belongs to the Southampton Princess, which leases the seabed at the facility from Government.

?We are still working through the plan with Government,? said Southampton Princess president Norman Mastalir on Tuesday.

?We have been in ongoing discussions. The next meeting is January 7.?

The process is complicated, he explained, due to environmental factors. ?We want to remove it in a safe manner.

?We are close to reaching an agreement, and I am hopeful it will be done before the hotel re-opens in April.?

It is likely the shoreline will be returned to its natural state, he said, adding that other uses for the site had been discussed, however, none were deemed suitable.

Mr. Mastalir also disagreed there has ever been any controversy over the dismantling of the site, particularly whether or not the responsibility lay with the Southampton Princess or with Dolphin Quest.

?They (Dolphin Quest) have no responsibility or liability as relates to it at all. The only dispute about that was among people who don?t know what they?re talking about, frankly.

?They never had any responsibility, as they and we have stated on numerous occasions. They have done everything they were required to do.

?This is just between Government and Fairmont.? As landlords for the property, Government has an interest in ensuring the dismantling is done properly, he said.