PHILIPSBURG--The Island Government will construct a church for a group of the Methodist denomination in Belvedere as compensation for a government mistake, according to reports reaching The Daily Herald.

The group responsible for the new church reportedly had committed funds to re-construct a domed structure that had been used and left vacant by one of the contractors of the Belvedere homes. However, the property on which the structure was located already had been identified by the Island Government for a new sports field.

This newspaper understands that the Executive Council, following a bidding process, approved the construction of the church at a new location for approximately NAf. 500,000 about two weeks ago.

While usually reliable sources contend that the church group had started construction without a building permit, Commissioner of Economic Affairs and Sports Frans Richardson refuted reports that the group did not have a permit. He said government had issued a permit and had not issued a building stop to the Methodist group, which had committed significant funds to the project.

Therefore, the Commissioner said, because government had made the mistake, government opted to identify a new location in the district for the church and to construct the church as compensation for government's mistake.

Government will now demolish the domed structure to make way for the sports field, on which work is slated to start this year. The groundbreaking for the construction of the church at its new location is scheduled for March 6.