OPPOSITION Leader Kim Swan is challenging Government to move ahead with plans to reopen the St. George's police station.

And the St. George's West MP also claims that Government appears to be backtracking on promises made prior to last December's General Election.

Ministry of Works & Engineering officials met with St. George's Mayor Mariea Caisey yesterday to outline their plans to renovate the decrepit facility, which has been shut down for more than a year.

But they were unable to say when building work will start or how long it will take to complete ¿ despite assurances from Government last November that the station would be open within months.

Speaking following the meeting yesterday, Mayor Caisey said she was pleased that progress was being made, but acknowledged that Ministry staff had been unable to give her a timeline for the development.

"Progress is being made and everything looks fine," Mayor Caisey said.

"Basically, I was shown a plan of what they intend to do, which is to keep the existing facade. Most of the work is being done inside but it is pretty much going to be the same floor plan as before. I wouldn't say it was a major job but I have no idea when work is going to start."

Government first announced plans to shut down the station in 2002 when it announced that an East End force would be based in neighbouring St. David's.

But in 2003 ¿ another election year ¿ it was forced to backtrack after receiving a petition from angry residents of the historic town. Then-Premier and St. George's MP Jennifer Smith later denied Government had intended to close the station permanently, blaming "misinformation" for the apparent misunderstanding.

In the run-up to last year's election, Public Safety Minister David Burch gave assurances on a number of occasions that the station would open soon. He also denied his comments were made to bolster support for Government in the key East End constituencies.

But yesterday Mr. Swan said that no work on the revamp had been carried out since the election.

"Apart from bringing in the Hustle Truck before the General Election, there has been no progress," he said.

"I think it's safe to say that Government promises have all the appearance of being made to satisfy the electorate.

"We are close to another cruise ship season when we will have two cruise ships visiting St. George's ¿ that means that a town with a population of 5,000 will have an additional 5,000 visitors for five days of the week and that, along with our status as a UNESCO World Heritage site, certainly warrants a police presence in the town. Instead what we have is a police commuter service, an on-call service, a response service.

"But ever since 2002 we have had plenty of to-ing and fro-ing and double talk and promises ¿ everything except action. Every time an election comes around you hear the right things being said but what we need is for the right things to be done.

"During the current Budget debate there has been no reassurance that this project is going to take place ¿ the only reassurance came before the election."

Mr. Swan reiterated his point after hearing of Ms Caisey's meeting with Works & Engineering officials.

"I will only celebrate when we have a functioning police station," he said.

"I am not prepared to settle for promises, particularly when you consider this situation has been going on for six years now."

One angry resident, who asked not to be named, backed up Mr. Swan's claim that a permanent police presence in the town was essential.

"I think when Sen. Burch made all those election promises about getting the St. George's Police Station up and running, everyone knew it was just bulls**t, just another election ploy," the resident told the Mid-Ocean News.

"Right now there are no police to be seen in St. George's. You can mug someone right in the Town Square, steal their wallet and walk away with no worries about getting caught. By the time Police get there from Southside ¿ if they ever do make it ¿ the thug is long gone.

"Last summer it was not that unusual to see gangs roving around St. George's at night. In fact one night a group of young men with machetes chased a cruise ship worker back to his ship at Penno's Wharf. The police eventually came but all the men had gone. Of course, the police never reported this incident since they didn't find the men and the cruise ship worker managed to get back on the ship without being killed.

"It is joke down here. Many years ago there would be a couple of cops just doing a roving patrol around St. George's and that seemed to deter thugs and criminals.

That has not happened for years since the Police down here only want to set up a radar on Kindley Field Road. That is the extent of policing in the East End. I suppose it is going to take something really bad to happen to get any response from Government. And then, of course, they will forget it after a few weeks. It is a disgrace. Some World Heritage spot we have down here!"