The Ministry of Works and Engineering is seeking legal advice after what Minister Alex Scott says was "reckless reporting" by The Royal Gazette which damaged the reputations of Works and Engineering staffers.

Mr. Scott was speaking in the House of Assembly yesterday to clarify events which led to controversy over maintenance work on the St. George's Post Office.

"The first point I'd like to make is that it appears as if making damaging statements against this Minister in their column inches and editorial has become an acceptable pastime for The Royal Gazette. However they must consider the consequences of reckless reporting... the reputation and image of the very professional men and women who serve in Works and Engineering," he told the House.

"These professionals serve all over Bermuda daily and The Royal Gazette hurt them, their reputations and their families yesterday. They have worked for years to establish a good name that The Royal Gazette tarnished and took away with one unfounded headline and story."

Mr. Scott was referring to Thursday's story on the controversy in which it was reported that "Works and Engineering officials are expected to make a humiliating apology to the people of St. George's" for "unauthorised work carried out on the old post office."

In his statement, Mr. Scott said comments made by Henry Ming can "best be characterised as `misleading'" as Mr. Ming, the National Trust president, had visited the site while the ground floor of the Post Office was being remodelled. "He came. He saw and should have had sufficient information to know that his most recent comments in the media (if accurately reported) can at best be characterised as `misleading'."

Controversy broke this week over maintenance work with allegations that the Works and Engineering department was undertaking work - which included removing the roof of the historic building - without planning permission. Mr. Ming was quoted in this paper as describing the work as a "desecration."

An injunction to stop the work was granted to the St. George's Preservation Authority, but lifted two days later after a joint application by the Authority and the Ministry.

The two later released a joint statement saying that "it has been accepted that there was much confusion and misinterpretation surrounding the development, permissions and procedures," and that talks were continuing. "The joint statement, which was repeated by Mr. Scott in the House also said that Thursday's story was erroneous because no-one had required that the Ministry apologise to the people of St. George's.

"In regard to the very misleading story...suffice it to say at this time that the Attorney General's office is pursuing the matter on behalf of the Minister and Ministry for Works and Engineering."

Mr. Scott said the relevant authorities in St. George's had been informed of the work to be done, and had approved it.

"A significant point in this narrative is the fact that remodelling was commissioned by an experienced and sensitive contractor who had earlier restored the Springfield property in Sandys Parish with such extraordinary skill that the completed project received a National Trust award," he said.

He said the Ministry has blanket approval for one year to carry out work on Government buildings.

"It has long been accepted that the scale and frequency of remodelling work conducted by the Ministry on schools, government offices and facilities such as the Post Office would grind to a halt if approvals were to be issued for each project."

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