Premier Ewart Brown last night remained silent about his promise that a five-star St. Regis hotel would be confirmed for Club Med a week and a half after December 5.

The Premier had told a Progressive Labour Party meeting in Southampton 12 days ago: "Within the next week and a half, I expect he (Carl Bazarian of investment firm Bazarian International) will be here to announce that that property is going to be the site of a new St. Regis hotel.

"If you think it's just talk, just watch and you will see. The agreement has already been signed with respect to the land. They are ironing out a few small details with respect to the brand itself."

It followed his pledge at a PLP meeting in St. David's in May: "Let me tell you I made a commitment: in 2007, construction will begin on the new hotel in St. George's. I can promise you it will be delivered."

Yesterday, The Royal Gazette contacted Dr. Brown's Press Secretary Glenn Jones for an update on both promises, but received no response.

St. George's residents, who have been calling for Club Med to be transformed for years, have complained that they have had their hopes dashed on numerous occasions.

A string of developers have been lined up since it closed in 1988, but each proposal has fallen by the wayside.

Although Dr. Brown has turned down all requests for comment on his pledges, Works and Engineering Minister Dennis Lister defended the Premier at a press conference on December 7.

Mr. Lister said the Premier had been talking in "general terms" when he said construction work would begin on the new hotel this year.

"It's demolition first," said Mr. Lister, pointing at workmen. "When he said construction, he was saying in general terms. Part of that construction is pre-work. We have to begin pre-work so we can see development."