Top civil servants have avoided breaking into their own jail -- despite losing the keys for three years.

Jailors literally locked Casemates up and threw away the keys when the Westgate Correctional Facility opened in 1994.

The keys to the old Royal Navy prison were hidden away in a Government storage box and have not been found since.

Government officials were not sure how to get into Casemates until it was revealed yesterday that Prisons Commissioner Edward Dyer had keys to open a new main gate padlock.

They will now be handed over to the Ministry of Works and Engineering, responsible for Casemates.

And it means Government leaders can now set up a Parliamentary committee to discuss exactly what the old Dockyard building should be used for.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, who is in charge of the Island's prisons, said he would discuss Casemates' future with Works Minister C.V.

(Jim) Woolridge.

But Clarence Terceira also warned potential developers it would cost at least $2 million just to fix plumbing and electricity.

Dr. Terceira said: "I do not actually know where the keys to the old prison are.

"But really, where they are is immaterial. What's important now is what happens to Casemates.

"It was built in the 1830s as a Royal Marines barracks and the lower walls are eight feet thick.

"Whoever uses it will have to take the building's special characteristics into account.

"It will cost at least $2 million just to fix plumbing and reconnect the electric.

"But now I will speak to Mr. Woolridge to see if we can reactivate a committee to discuss the future of Casemates.'' Mr. Woolridge asked officials in his department to find out who had responsibility for Casemates, after being contacted by The Royal Gazette last week.

He said: "It appears that until we physically get the keys to the old prison, we are not responsible for it.

"They would have been held by the Ministry of Health and Social Services. But the necessary arrangements are now being made for the keys to be handed over to us.'' Mr. Dyer said the keys were available for collection.

"I will hand them over as soon as I am asked,'' he said. "It's not that much of a mystery really.

"Certainly, nobody will have to break into the old jail. The original prison security keys were put in storage somewhere and they were replaced with a new padlock on the main gate.

"I do have that key so access to Casemates is not a problem.'' The West End Development Corporation, the public body regenerating Dockyard, said it would like to take on responsibility for Casemates.

Spokesman Scott Hunter said: "Whoever has the keys to Casemates is a matter for the Government departments.

"But we are keen to have Casemates come into our remit and we would like to be involved in any discussions.''