Truly,

A.P.S

Sincerely,

Andrew Paul Scaife.

I’m surprised the fire department wasn’t called in to clean up the oil spill that has clearly occurred with the greasing

How underhanded to use a worldwide pandemic and the PLP’s ineptitude to come up with an “economic plan” to coerce the government into thinking the rezoning of recreational land for a few very wealthy people to build on, is actually a good idea.

To all Bermudian voters – the PLP has LIED. Their call to “challenge the status quo” was nothing more than race baiting. This SDO proves the PLP has no plans whatsoever to help the economy and instead, would rather make the unprecedented move to turn scarce, open land into residential plots. Who will have the financial means to afford these plots? Certainly not “Mr. and Mrs. Bermuda”. That is, unless “Mr. and Mrs. Bermuda” speak with foreign accents and are as white as they come.

“It has, undoubtedly, tremendous potential to inject an estimated $75 million capital investment into the economy; provide a much needed stimulus to various business sectors including construction and landscaping, real estate and other retail and service industries; and most importantly, provide jobs for Bermudians.”

The above is clearly an overestimation which we know full well the PLP are very good at as their budgeting skills for any project always seems go over by significant margin. Those palm trees must be expansive. Landscaping? Does the Minister know that Team Riddells have created their very own Horticultural company to maintain the property, that line of business is sown up!

The developers have identified 18, one acre plots, considering there is currently a 0.44 acre plot for sale for north of $900,000, by my rough calculations that would make the prime waterfront plots, of which there are 7 or 8, in the region of $2,000,000, just for the land! With construction costs at $350 a square foot and a 4,000 square foot home being a reasonably sized property for a one acre plot you are looking at around $3,400,000 all in, a reasonable price for the average Bermudian I would say. Notwithstanding the fact that the waterfront is protected and its thriving marine life consists of turtles, parrot fish, mussels and snails in addition to the plethora of fish that enjoy the peaceful waters, I am sure the Minister will overlook all that though when applications are submitted for the multiple docks that each property owner will want and expect.

Have we not learnt from Caroline Bay? High net worth individuals are not interested in buying property in Bermuda, look on all the realty websites and take note of the number of properties and land for sale in excess of $2,000,000.

A point is very well made though, and we must tip our hats to Team Riddells, they have been busy this last week, even working in the rain, to ensure they comply with exactly as the Minister explained in his statement. Well done, very well done.

There is no way that it should longer to get a set of plans approved than it does to have them drawn. However it is even worse here as it actually takes longer to get a set of plans approved then it does the BUILD a project.

If the Planning Department would streamline the process, cut the red tape and stop with the “not my job” approach we might get some small construction projects going and get some more people back to work. The danger in dragging your feet in a bad economy is that developers and home owner get frustrated and postpone or cancel projects.

Get some plans approved people!