Tucker’s Point SDO Debate to Resume
Minister of the Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy Walter Roban confirmed this evening [Mar.23] that the Government and Tucker’s Point Club have been working continuously since Friday’s Senate session to consider the concerns expressed by Senators.
Approximately 4.5 hours into the debate this past Friday, Senator David Burt [PLP] interrupted Senator Jeanne Atherden [UBP], and asked to “rise and report progress,” effectively ending the debate and delaying the vote.
Of the eleven Senators, only Senator Kim Wilson [PLP], and Senator Carol Ann Bassett [Independent] were left to speak. The PLP Senators were in support of the SDO, while the UBP Senators were against, meaning the SDO needed one Independent Senator to support it for it to pass, and two had said they would not support it, leaving Senator Carol Ann Bassett to be the deciding vote. The debate stopped prior to Senator Bassett speaking, and her position remains unknown.
This evening a Government spokesperson said, “In an effort to find the common ground many expressed a desire to see achieved, Tucker’s Point Club has reconsidered its development plans and presented proposals to Government that they believe will address their need to enhance the tourism product at Tucker’s Point Club while also addressing the concerns expressed by Senators.
“The Government has studied the proposals and believes t they provide a significant opportunity for this matter to proceed in the Senate. To this end, the Government and Tucker’s Point Club representatives briefed the Independent Senators and the Opposition Senate Leader on the proposals earlier this afternoon (Wednesday, 23 March 2011)..”
“Following the ongoing consultations, a decision will be taken with regard to resuming debate of the Tucker’s Point Resort Residential Development (St. George’s and Hamilton Parishes) Special Development Order 2011 in an amended form..”
James Masters, Executive Director at Tucker’s Point Club and Georgina Simpson, Counsel, represented the Tucker’s Point Club. Minister Roban, in his capacity as the Acting Minister of Business Development and Tourism, led the Government team. Premier Paula Cox also participated in the meeting. Technical officers from the Departments of Planning, Conservation Services and Tourism were in attendance for the Government.
hahaha..the plp KNOW this will finish them for good!
I can’t help but feel that, once again, this issue is being raced through without sufficient time for those more conversant with such issues (yes, that would include the environmentalists and conservationists) to represent the interests of Bermuda and of OUR protected lands. I am concerned that there appears to be real collusion on the part of Tucker’s Point and the Government to exclude from the process those most knowledgeable! I do sense something fishy going on here.
If they change the proposal, doesn’t it have to back before the House of Assembly before the Senate votes on it?
Runner… apparently it does not have to begin again. In fact, I understand that the Senate will continue their debate as if they had just resumed from a break… ie. that Senator Atherden will pick up where she left off and then the one Senator who hadn’t spoken last Friday will speak… and then they will vote… just as if nothing had happened. I hope I am incorrect in my understanding but we will have to wait and see. It doesn’t seem a reasonable process to me.
apparently the government met with the independent senators, the opposition senators and members of the Planning department, so i would assume that any amended order would have had input from these members and be more likely to pass.