Tucker's Point SDO approved

FRIDAY, MAR. 25: A controversial bid to build new condos at Tucker’s Point resort was backed by Senators tonight.

The move clears the way for hotel bosses to build on land environmental protesters insisted was a vital part of Bermuda’s natural heritage.



The original plan for 70 hotel rooms and 78 new residences was significantly scaled back this week in a bid to get Senate approval.



The revised proposal, which was approved by a 7-4 margin, contains no hotel rooms and 11 less properties.



After the vote Environment Minister Walter Roban said: “I’m pleased because the processes we instituted have worked.”

The debate in Senate was punctuated by car horns sounded outside in support of environmental protesters who picketed outside the Cabinet Office.

Mr Roban said: “People were vocal – but they had their say.

“And I’d say to them to follow the process – this is a democracy.

“People should be reassured because nothing about this was done in secrecy.”

And he added: “All we have done with this is create an opportunity for Tucker’s Point to make an application which will come under more public scrutiny.

“The public will remain involved in this and I would urge them to do that.”

The five government Senators were backed by Senate President Carol Ann Bassett and Independent Senator Joan Dillas Wright to carry the vote.

UBP Senators Jeanne Atherden, Michael Dunkley and Suzann Roberts Holshouser, backed by Independent Walywn Hughes, opposed the revised plan.

The proposal was approved after last Friday’s Senate debate was halted with the vote appearing to hang on the Senate President’s vote.

The redrawn plan excluded Quarry Hill, while two of the nine lots on Paynter’s Hill were dropped and six acres of land donated to government instead.

The developers also reduced the number of lots at Whitecrest Hill from 54 to 45, with the remaining seven acres also donated to government.

But Opposition Senate leader Michael Dunkley said: “I’m disappointed in the result, but that’s politics.

“The nuts and bolts of it is you’re taking land which was zoned and allowing development.

“I still don’t think that was the best way forward – we also didn’t have enough financial information. You can’t make an informed decision without that.”

Earlier, Senators clashed as Opposition members claimed they had not been properly briefed on the changes and complained they had not had enough time to fully examine the new proposals.

But junior Environment Minister David Burt insisted: “This is not a new order which is being tabled – it’s just an amendment to the order which we spent a long time debating in this House last week.

“There is nothing added in, there are only things taken out of the order and to suspend the rules gives everyone the right to speak again.”

He added: “This government has listened to the concerns expressed and used the time to consult and amend the order.

“We have listened to the voice of the people and returned with a proposal which can be supported.

“We believe this proposal will achieve the compromise sought by all.”

Senate government leader David Burch added: “There has been repeated criticism of this government that we have not been supportive of business, that we must speed up the planning process – less red tape and more red carpet.

“Both Tucker’s Point and the government in the space of a week turned it around in order to keep Rosewood at the table and we’re criticised for disrespect and not keeping people informed. That can’t be right.”

And he stressed that the Special Development Order (SDO) was not permission to build and that the planning process would still have to be gone through and that objectors could continue to lobby if they were not pleased with proposed developments.

But Sen. Burch added: “We must change with the times – this government invented fractional ownership and it’s now being copied across the Caribbean.”

He said: “We do believe this is supportive of tourism, we do believe it’s supportive of industry and we believe it will send a message to people waiting on the side asking if Bermuda is open for business.”

Ms Bassett told Senators: “I realise we live in unprecedented financial turmoil. Like Senator Burch says, we have to change the model.”

And she said she hoped the land which would now become available to the government is quickly turned into nature reserves and parks for the benefit of Bermudians and tourists.

She said: “I’d hate to see Bermuda get this land and five years on, nothing has been done with it.”