Questions were raised last night about why Bermuda Police Service’s senior officers weren’t given space in the new $92 million police and court building and are instead expected to occupy rented offices across the street.

Shadow Public Works Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said the decision to house the senior command team in the privately-owned Veritas Place, at 65 Court Street, was hard to fathom.

“It boggles the mind why a purpose-built police facility would not accommodate all operational aspects of policing,” she said. “It would appear that first preference should have been given to the police department, including its senior officers, from Commissioner on down.”

As reported by The Royal Gazette yesterday, Commissioner Michael DeSilva and his senior officers are believed to be moving from police headquarters at Prospect to the fourth floor of Veritas Place, after a $290,000 refit. It is not known if the move will be permanent.

Mr DeSilva has refused to comment and the Ministry of Public Works has not answered questions posed on Tuesday.

A year ago, Works Minister Derrick Burgess said: “There was never a plan to house the police senior command in the new facility, which was designed to provide a state-of-the-art alternative to the old Hamilton Police Station on Parliament Street.

“There is a plan to effect a much needed improvement in the police headquarters facility at Prospect.”

Mrs Gordon-Pamplin said she took part in a tour of the new police and court building on Monday, when Deputy Premier Mr Burgess explained some space had been reassigned in the facility because ten extra cells had to be built.

The Minister said CID would be moved to another part of the police and court building, she added.

“At no time did we discuss the rehousing of the Commissioner and his staff, and if the intent was for them to remain at Prospect, that would not bode well for morale within the upper echelons of the service.

“You cannot have your ‘CEO’ in sub-standard accommodations while those over whom he has charge are in luxury.”

Mrs Gordon-Pamplin added: “Government built a gigantic edifice, the purpose for which was to help eliminate rent being paid for non-government property. Why is the Government looking to spend money on another privately-owned rental space?”

Dueane Dill, Bermuda Democratic Alliance’s Public Works spokesman, said the expected relocation of the senior officers “seemed to be coming out of the blue” and showed a lack of forward-thinking.

“Initially, the Minister said there were no plans to move the command team from Prospect,” he said. “Just the other day, Minister Burgess did say he had nothing to hide and he’s being completely transparent. One has to question that if this is coming out of left field without any warning.”

Mr Dill said Mr Burgess should disclose how much rent would be paid at Veritas Place, reveal if the refurbishment of Prospect was still planned and explain why space wasn’t set aside for the senior officers in the new $92 million building.

“Could the necessary repairs to Prospect have been cheaper than the $290,000 refit plus the rental costs on a going forward basis?” he asked.

National Security Minister David Burch told broadcast media yesterday that staff had to be removed from Prospect due to asbestos and that the Commissioner and his deputy moved out of the headquarters building a year ago.

Former Cabinet Minister and lawyer Arthur Hodgson was given permission to build six-storey Veritas Place in 2007, when he revealed he was part of a team of developers named Abbott Holdings Ltd.