Works and Engineering Minister the Hon. Leonard Gibbons said.

At the end of October, Government gave the French resort company until March 31 "to fix up the Government property that they've leased from us,'' Mr.

Gibbons told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"It's not in very good condition, and they've had a schedule of defects for some six months,'' he said. "We've been more than patient.'' Mr. Gibbons understood that Club Med had three weeks to file a defence, after which a court date would be set.

The writ was issued as St. George's Mayor the Wor. Henry Hayward said an American hotel company was interested in purchasing the East End resort, which has been closed for five and a half years.

Mr. Gibbons said he met recently with both Mr. Hayward and representatives of Club Med. "I have been informed that there could be a prospective buyer,'' he said.

Asked if it was reason to delay court action, he said: "Not at this point.'' If a sale did develop, the writ could always be withdrawn, he said.

Mr. Hayward, who would not identify the prospective buyer, said interest in Club Med was heightened when word spread about a new heritage plan that St.

George's is working on through a consultant.