COCO Reef Resort has again refused to answer questions on why it removed wheelchair access during the multi-million-dollar renovations to its South Shore property two years ago.

Government also appeared unable to explain how or why the tourism establishment received Planning approval for the alteration, which contravenes existing laws.

This newspaper first questioned the change last week, after Warwick resident Georgina Hill complained that a wheelchair ramp in existence while the hotel was run by Government, was removed after the property was taken over by businessman John Jefferis.

"Disabled people should have the right to enjoy things as much as anyone else," she said then. "It was built by Government. Any changes that were made should have been made in accordance with the (building code regulation). (John) Jefferis has been allowed to remove something. He's made it inaccessible not just to me, but to many of those who paid for its construction."

The Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association yesterday supported Mrs. Hill's recollection of the property in its existence as Stonington Beach Hotel.

"The hotel was totally accessible as Stonington," said president Willard Fox. "We were so impressed with it that when we brought in handicapped guests to speak at a function about five years ago, we arranged for them to stay there. We found it completely accessible. It even had an access ramp."

Mr. Fox said that negative comments about the hotel's service and Mr. Jefferis had kept him away in recent years so he wasn't privy to its current amenities.

"But it is against the law, once something has been put in, to take it out," he insisted. "I know that it was accessible as Stonington. I haven't been there since. But as far as the law goes, once (disabled facilities) have been put in, you can't take them out."

Yesterday Permanent Secretary for the Environment Wayne Carey, whose bailiwick the Department of Planning falls under, said he was unaware of the details of the renovations to the Paget facility. A promise for comment after he had investigated the allegations went unfulfilled.

Calls to Coco Reef Resort's general manager Robin Gilbert were not returned.