GOVERNMENT is remaining tight-lipped over reports that the planned reopening of the St. George's Police Station has been delayed.

In mid-April, Works & Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess declared that the East End facility would be operational "within four to five months" once renovation work had been completed.

But with that deadline now here, construction work at the station has yet to get under way. And earlier this month a Ministry source revealed that the deadline had been put back, although the insider was unable to give further details.

In the past three weeks the Mid-Ocean News has repeatedly questioned the Ministry on the status of the station. As of Press time last night neither Mr. Burgess or Permanent Secretary Robert Horton had responded to our inquiries.

The station became the centre of controversy after shutting down at the beginning of last year.

In the run-up to last December's General Election, Government assured residents that it would re-open "within months".

But that pledge was shot down as hollow by the Opposition United Bermuda Party, which claimed that Government was electioneering in the key constituency.

The UBP also pointed out that Government gave similar assurances in the run-up to the 2003 General Election ¿ but had done nothing to fulfill that promise in four years.

Yesterday, former Opposition Senator Kenny Bascome, who represented the UBP in St. George's North at the last General Election, said Government had broken its pre-election pledge to the people that getting the station operational would be a top priority.

"When we highlighted the fact that we needed a full-time police station in St. George's at the last General Election, the PLP insisted that it was a top priority," he said.

"However, ten months later it still isn't open. We have seen ground being broken on a number of other projects in that time so clearly it's not a priority to Government.

"But it's something that is talked about on a daily basis 'when is the police station going to open up again?' people ask me.

"The ball is very much in Government's court and they need to keep the community informed of what exactly is going on."