Sandys Youth Group founder Gerald Fubler yesterday hit out at what claimed was a lack of interest on the part of Government about the former Canadian base at Daniel's Head.

Mr. Fubler said his group was promised a facility at the site -- but it had still not been made available to them.

Mr. Fubler also said he learned Government had put in a proposal for the building and three surrounding it, which was turned down, causing his group to be turned away as well.

"I'm tired of the run-around that the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Recreation is giving us,'' Mr. Fubler told The Royal Gazette . "Government said they would support our programme and now they're backing down.'' He explained the youth group, which offers activities including cricket, soccer, fishing and mentoring, was exciting the kids in a way schools cannot or will not.

He said he could not understand why the youth group was being ignored and wondered what this said about Government and how much it really cared about the youth.

Mr. Fubler also offered some advice to new Premier Pamela Gordon.

"Ms Gordon needs to put her money where her mouth is,'' he said. "She says that she's the people's premier -- well the youth are people too.

Youth and Sport Minister David Dyer was off the Island yesterday.

But Youth and Sport director Anthony Roberts said Government had been in negotiations for four buildings at Daniel's Head, but the talks fell through.

He revealed that Government was then offered just one building, but he said yesterday that one building would not be enough for the uses proposed by his Ministry.

He said Government wanted a facility that would benefit the entire Somerset community, and not just Mr. Fubler's group.

He added that should Government find the type of space it was looking for, it would make space available for Mr. Fubler's youth group as well.

Meanwhile, Bermuda Land Development Company spokesman Donald Grearson stressed the BLDC remained committed to making the building in question at Daniel's Head available for the community "as soon as possible''.

But he explained that the BLDC was first working to ensure that the building was safe for public use.

"This includes securing a certificate of use and occupancy from the Department of Planning,'' Mr. Grearson said, adding that BLDC chairman Vincent Ingham, chief executive officer Carl Musson, and SCAG chairman Keith Tucker agreed at a recent meeting on the next steps that must be taken to make the building available to the public.

Noting that the BLDC recognised there may be frustrations in getting "this important project'' off the ground, he said: "But it must ensure that the building is safe for public use and that the programmes of the planned community centre are based on sound administrative and financial arrangements.'' "Our objective is the establish a community centre in a building identified by the Sandys Community Action Group,'' Mr. Grearson continued. "We were hoping that the Ministry of Youth and Sport could participate by lending its support to an operation that will directly benefit the community,'' he said.

Gerald Fubler CLUB CLB