Police have gone quiet on three politics-related investigations which sparked major interest in the run-up to December's General Election.

Other than to say inquiries are ongoing, detectives will reveal nothing about their probes into the bullet received by Premier Ewart Brown; axed Health Minister Michael Scott's claim that documents "may have been stolen" from his office; and allegations that cheques from a company part owned by new Progressive Labour Party MP Zane DeSilva were forged.

It comes as The Royal Gazette's A Right To Know: Giving People Power campaign calls for publicly funded bodies to answer questions which are in the public interest. At least one of the investigations — surrounding Mr. Scott's claim — seems extremely unlikely to result in charges being issued.

Mr. Scott made his allegation shortly after he was informed this newspaper had obtained what appeared to be a copy of minutes of a secret meeting he took part in involving health chiefs and the Premier.

The document — which Mr. Scott described as private notes and not official minutes even though they were typed up, set out in minute form and shared with other members of the so-called Saturday Group — stated that a public healthcare review by Johns Hopkins Medicine International must be managed and written to avoid embarrassing Government.

It also contained a statement attributed to management consultants Kurron Shares' boss Corbett Price that "the reports out of KEMH will be devastating".

Mr. Scott appears to be sticking to his stance that this newspaper received the document as a result of a theft, even though other people present at the meeting are on the record as saying his notes had also been shared with them.

The then Minister later cited the resulting Police investigation as his reason for refusing to release the Johns Hopkins report, which cost $200,000 taxpayers' money. He denied the real reason for keeping the report hidden was the approaching election.

Shortly before Christmas, magistrates turned down detectives' request for a warrant and Police revealed they were nearing a conclusion in their investigation.

This month this newspaper has twice e-mailed Mr. Scott to ask him to drop his allegations after we were told the Police probe was rumbling on. Mr. Scott has not replied.

The bullet probe was at the centre of a high-profile Government and Police press conference just days before the General Election.

Home Affairs Minister David Burch, who revealed news of the incident at the joint conference with Commissioner of Police George Jackson, has deferred comment to Police.

Police have failed to answer a string of questions as to whether they are making progress, whether a suspect or motive have been established, and whether either political party has been implicated.

Interim Opposition leader Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said the case had left a taint of suspicion on the United Bermuda Party and the Progressive Labour Party. Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin described the timing of the incident as politically convenient for the Premier, with some people speculating he sent the bullet to himself and others thinking it may have been mailed by a UBP supporter.

Meanwhile the forged cheques allegations surfaced when a complaint was made to fraud officers on behalf of Bermuda Composite Construction about a bundle of more than 50 cheques bearing Mr. DeSilva's name and that of one of the company's other directors.

It is believed that the second name on the cheques, which date from 2001 to 2004, is the one alleged to have been forged. Again, the allegations came to light just days before the election.

Despite many requests for information regarding all three cases, Police would only say investigations are continuing.

Asked about Bermuda Police Service's stance on revealing information during ongoing investigations, a spokesman responded: "Please understand, we in the PMR office take your request(s) and put your request before the relevant individuals within our organisation. We then generate our reply/response based on the feedback we get.

"We cannot report on specifics of investigations. We will come to the media if we are appealing for witnesses or things of that nature.

"The investigation can be at a stage that may not be prudent for us to respond. For example: the case is being reviewed to assess whether or not we should proceed, the file is at the DPP's or officers are working on files.

"Whatever the case it is in very rare cases that we speak whilst the investigation in ongoing. During the whole BHC inquiry we spoke twice in the years that the case was under investigation.

"I know this is maybe very frustrating for you however, I must state it is a practice that has been put in place to ensure the integrity of investigations and the subsequent prosecutions are all above board."