Premier Ewart Brown praised the virtues of stem cell research at a public meeting on Wednesday night.

"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to realise that stem cells are going to be the way of the future," the man behind the controversial stem cell project at Winterhaven in Smith's told Sandys Rotary Club.

Dr. Brown and his wife Wanda are teaming up with California-based Stemedica to create the facility on the second floor of the Brown-Darrell Clinic, with plans for desperately ill patients to fly to Bermuda for treatment.

The Premier gave Rotarians an example of a multiple sclerosis sufferer in the United States who he said was "now walking" after being treated with stem cells.

"We know it's early but the promise is there," he said. "I think it's extremely exciting, and is a breakthrough similar to what penicillin represented. If we can play a small part in that we will be happy."

Dr. Brown, Mrs. Brown and Stemedica have repeatedly refused to reveal what they are planning to do at Winterhaven since stem cell research leader George Daley announced he was very sceptical of anyone running experimental treatment in jurisdictions such as Bermuda, where there is no regulatory oversight.

On hearing of the project, Dr. Daley, president of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), warned sick patients not to be misled into believing the treatment is a miracle cure.

The Brown-Darrell Clinic has pledged to welcome and encourage legislation consistent with the international protocol practised by countries engaged in stem cell work, but has repeatedly failed to respond when asked if it will postpone opening the stem cell side of its operation until such legislation is in place.

The Ministry of Health has repeatedly refused to say whether any stem cell legislation will be introduced in Bermuda.

On Wednesday the Premier also told Rotarians he was unhappy with The Royal Gazette's coverage of Winterhaven.

Dr. Brown, who once again refused to reveal any information when asked for an update by this newspaper this week, complained that this newspaper implied the project is 'mysterious'.

Attacking our in-depth coverage of Winterhaven which coincided with the 2007 PGA Grand Slam of Golf, he said: "When they did that it took my mind back to when I walked into a Bulgari jewellery store in the 70s, when I went in to buy something and the security guard came over to me. I had to say: 'I'm a customer, man'."

The Brown-Darrell Clinic was announced amid fanfare in the summer of 2007, with Stemedica representatives flying to the Island for a press conference and the Progressive Labour Party championing the Premier for creating the ultimate hope for millions of people.

At that stage it was said to be opening in 2007, before the date was put back to early 2008. But since Dr. Daley's comments, Bermuda has been dropped from Stemedica's website and never been restored, while no opening date has been revealed despite requests.

Brown-Darrell also advertised in The Royal Gazette for a family physician last week.