A Senator has accused the Minister for Public Safety of double standards for trying to draw attention to the Governor’s responsibility for policing while at the same time failing to ensure a Police presence in St. George’s.

Sen. Kim Swan told the Senate that the Government had repeatedly reneged on its promise to provide a station in the town.

He said the promise was made after the 2002 Peppercorn Ceremony by then Premier Dame Jennifer Smith, when Sen. David Burch was Chief of Staff. Dame Jennifer said at the time that Government would renovate the town’s Police station and that a new facility at Southside was only an interim measure.

Referring to a recent robbery in the town, Sen. Swan said tourists were now being dissuaded from visiting after reading reports on the Internet of an attack on tourists.

His remarks followed a speech by Sen. Burch on Wednesday in which the Minister for Public Safety said he wanted to hold Governor Sir John Vereker more responsible for complaints about policing on the Island, as he was fed up of being “pilloried for crime” when he had no control over operations.

Senator Kim Swan told Sen. Burch: “You come here today and talk about constitutional responsibility when this Government gave assurances that the people of St. George’s would have their Police station converted and have a dedicated Police service. Reportedly after seven years of this promise being broken, now we have visitors looking on the Internet about coming to Bermuda and feeling nervous.

“It’s criminal for this Government to promise a town it would have a Police station seven years ago and then seven years later to be reneging on that promise.

“And it’s criminal for a town of World Heritage status and for a country spending millions on marketing overseas, to have this then undermined by criminals.

“The Minister responsible for Public Safety will not take responsibility for what the Minister of Works and Engineering needs to do.”

Sen. Burch said: “You can’t say that when this Government provides $57 million to the Police Service. It’s clear the Government has responsibility for the Police and has told the country it is not relinquishing this responsibility.”

Sen. Swan continued: “We’re talking about policing and the renovation of St. George’s Police Station which comes under Works and Engineering, under the Premier’s office.

“What we need is not assurances but action. These visitors looking on the Internet are feeling uncomfortable, and the five thousand residents of St. George’s are uncomfortable.”

Attorney General Sen. Phil Perinchief said the station at Southside provided an adequate Police presence.

“There is a Police station five to ten minutes away from St George’s at Southside. It’s less than a seven minute drive,” he said.