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Dear Sir,

I am truly appalled by the proposed Southlands hotel development.

It is criminal that this Government is going to allow this monstrosity to be built on virgin land, using Special Development Orders and overturning Section 34 covenants.

If this does occur, this Government will go down in history as the Government which tried to destroy the Botanical Gardens, but failed, yet succeeded in destroying 37 acres of virgin land elsewhere.

This beautiful piece of land, that supports innumerable birds, Warwick lizards, chameleons and beneficial insects will be swept away to be replaced by a 10-storey staff quarters, three five-storey resort buildings on the ocean-side, five five-storey buildings to the north along with other buildings to house the proposed three ballrooms, exotic spa, nightclub, business centre, bars and restaurants to accommodate the 400 planned guests and 400 guest suite owners.

Not only are we selling our last vestiges of open space to foreigners, we are again allowing hotels to build residential units for foreigners to purchase.

Yet we, as Bermudians, have had our rights restricted to sell our properties to foreigners.

Non-Bermudians and hotel companies will be allowed to sell to foreigners but Bermudians cannot.

It looks like this Government favours big business over its own people.

More foreigners

One educated guess on who will service all these new guest visitors? Foreigners, who will have to be brought in to work, not only in this proposed development, but for the Atlantic/Golden Hind development in Warwick and the proposed Ritz Carlton development in Hamilton.

We do not have enough Bermudians to service the industries now. During this Government's tenure, work permits have increased from 5,000 to over 11,000 per annum.

How many more guest workers will be needed for these new hotels, thus creating more housing and traffic issues for residents?

Big business is buying Bermuda and this Government is allowing it to happen.

The Southlands development is not needed and will cause great damage to the environment.

Bermudians need to stand up and fight for the precious open space that is left on this crowded, little Island.

If not, we will have nothing but concrete structures to leave to our grandchildren.

Bob Masters

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