Government allowed work to continue on the Police/court building for 15 months before it got a building permit, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

The document, which is required before construction can start, was only obtained on February 2 this year while work began on the controversial $78 million project in December 2007.

A building permit ensures that the Planning department has approved that the construction details fit the building code including wiring and plumbing and that the Fire Department is also satisfied with safety.

A file in the Planning Department reveals there was no building permit in 2007 when work began.

A letter from the building control officer said: "A permit has not yet been replaced, pending the issues of planning permission and signed approved drawing being resolved."

The saga continued throughout 2008 with a Government architect writing to the building control officer in May to say: "It is anticipated that the engineer of record will be completing their review by May 30, 2008, at which time three sets of locally certified stamped drawings and the completed building permit application along with the supporting documents will be submitted."

In July, 2008 the building permit was applied for and it was granted on February 2 in a letter from Planning, which ironically contained the passage: "You are reminded that you must not begin work until an approved permit has been issued."

It warned that a $25,000 fine was liable for breaching the permit regulations, however work continued on the Police/court building throughout those 15 months.

It was a different story with a private development late last year. Government issued a stop order on construction work on the Treo block in Par-la-Ville Road because a building permit was missing.

Work halted for about a month while the right document was obtained.

Yesterday Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simmons blasted Government for being so lax with its paperwork.

And he said Environment Minister Mr. Blakeney was sleeping at his job.

"He is not an advocate in ensuring that our planning laws are protected. I am stunned by this flagrant violation of our laws."

He said unless the Minister could demonstrate a commitment to ensure Government abided by the laws he needed to resign. However Government declined to comment on the matter yesterday.

Mr. Simmons added: "My question is what are the Planning inspectors doing? Something has fallen awry in the Planning department."

He questioned what Planning inspections had been done during the building process.

"This Government feels that Planning laws do not apply to them. It is ill-disciplined. It is another blatant example that they refuse to abide by the Planning legislation.

"Look at the pier up in Dockyard same thing, they build almost a half a mile of pier without taking it to the Planning process.

"That was done intentionally. It is wilful behaviour that the law doesn't apply to them then they wonder why we have problems with our youth not obeying our laws, there is no discipline. Well, they are demonstrating no discipline in our laws now.

"This is very disappointing. What other buildings are they doing now without the relevant permit? In addition are we satisfied that this meets building codes, that this meets planning regulations?"

This behaviour made a mockery of the new development plan, said Mr. Simmons.

"The laws are there to protect the community and the builders, there are certain criteria they have to meet.

"Getting this letter at this late stage tells me maybe they had some problems in meeting building codes and Planning requirements.

"To send a building permit when the property is almost a quarter raised is unacceptable."