St. George's Police Station will be ready to reopen in four to five months, Works Minister Derrick Burgess revealed yesterday.

Mr. Burgess told a press conference major reconstruction work was about to begin at the building, which has been closed since January 2, 2007, leading to complaints about the lack of Police presence in the Old Town.

"This extensive renovation and renewal work will fully upgrade this important facility and continue for the future to provide a strong local Police presence for the Town of St. George, for residents and visitors alike," said the Minister.

He said up to $500,000 would be spent on the project, which will include complete refurbishment, redecoration and external works to the masonry, windows and general woodwork detailing.

"I have no doubt that the people of St. George's will welcome their refreshed and refurbished Police Station," he added.

Mr. Burgess said work was being done in consultation and agreement with the St. George's Preservation Authority and the Corporation of St. George's.

He said renovations would take about four or five months, and that the building would then reopen immediately.

The Police station became a political football in the run-up to December's General Election. Opposition St. George's candidate Kenneth Bascome pledged to restore a round-the-clock Police presence to the town if he was elected; a few days later Public Safety Minister David Burch showed the media around the building and promised it would be revamped and reopened within months.

At Sen. Burch's press conference, reporters were able to get a glimpse of a facility which was infested with termites, littered with dead cockroaches and with its first floor out of bounds for safety reasons — although Police officers present still described it as "better than Hamilton Police Station".

Since then, it has been gutted by Hustle Truck workers, although United Bermuda Party Leader and St. George's MP Kim Swan accused them of damaging cabling and windows in the process.