Cabinet this week approved the plan to build the new Hamilton Police Station and Courts building, Senate leader David Burch revealed yesterday.

However Sen. Burch, who is Public Safety and Housing Minister, deferred details on timelines to the Works and Engineering Minister. He told the Senate: “But I can say that it is a matter of high priority for Government — so I anticipate little delay in advancing this project.”

And Sen. Burch revealed Police Commissioner George Jackson had put on hold some agreed overseas recruitment — with his blessing.

Sen. Burch told the Upper House Police had been given approval to recruit 42 overseas officers to bring the service up to full strength.

The first 14 officers had arrived on November 17 and had nearly finished their orientation programme ahead of deployment in January.

And on January 12 another 14 officers will arrive for orientation.

“The Commissioner of Police, quite correctly, has delayed further overseas recruitment until the outcome of the current local recruitment drive is known.”

Sen. Burch said he had asked new Regiment commander William White to revisit a proposal by his predecessor for soldiers to assume some guarding duties now done by Police.

He said the proposal had the backing of the Police Commissioner and would “greatly enhance the regiment’s attractiveness to young Bermudians who might contemplate a military career”.

Sen. Burch also revealed he had spent time with other departments of his new ministry including Corrections.

He said Cabinet had approved a bill to amend the Prisons and Parole Acts to allow early repatriation of foreign prisoners on parole — thereby saving the Bermudian taxpayer around $60,000 a year per prisoner.