House as soon as they have finished touching up the former home of the Royal Navy's senior officer at HMS Malabar.

Governor Thorold Masefield is expected to move out of his present accommodation on Langton Hill to allow the refurbishment -- expected to cost in the region of hundreds of thousands of dollars -- to take place.

Works Minister C.V. (Jim) Woolridge said workers were readying the Governor's temporary home on Ireland Island.

He said: "The crews are preparing that place first and it is not our intention to do anything at Government House until we have completed that.

"The work we will have to do is fairly extensive and we expect that His Excellency will be out of there for between three to five months. If we can get it done sooner, we will.'' The Governor's temporary home on Ireland Island was used to house the commanders of the Royal Naval Dockyard.