Response to Government’s announcement of the approval of an SDO for the Southlands development
Members of the Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) are outraged at the approval of a Special Development Order (SDO) for the Southlands development project. In March of 2007, Minister of the Environment Neletha Butterfield, made public a draft of the SDO and invited consultation – an action for which she deserved and received credit. The draft SDO was soundly discredited by planning, architectural and environmental experts. In addition, in the short period of time that was allowed for objection, thousands of island residents signed a petition against the SDO and hundreds marched in protest and sent letters of objection to both Minister Butterfield and Premier Brown.
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Despite the short notice and the early morning rain there were 200 people who came to line the road along South Shore at the Southlands Property this morning to warn their Government and fellow Bermudians that a resort at Southlands such as the one that is planned would be a crime. This crime would not just be an environmental disaster but it would be a crime against Bermudians and set a precedent for the entire island to be completely converted into a concrete jungle where few tourists are likely to visit.Thanks to everyone who came to sound the warning. Our voices were heard despite Nelson Hunt, one of the developers, trying to silence us by revving his motorcycle engine while one of us was being interviewed by VSB news.
Stay tuned for the next event.
You can join BEST and stay up to date via e.mail by clicking on the “send us an e.mail” link on the right side at the top of this page.
We believe a decision by the Minister of the Environment issuing an SDO for the Southlands development is imminent.
We urge you as members of the Bermuda public to voice your protest against this decision now by doing the following;
1) Call and email (copy your email to BEST at membership@best.org.bm) the Minister of the Environment stating your dissatisfaction with her decision when the decision is made. – nbutterfield@gov.bm tel. 441 292 4595
2) Call and email the Premier (copy your email to BEST at membership@best.org.bm) stating your dissatisfaction with the decision when the decision is made, ebrown@gov.bm tel. 441 295 3130
3) Write and encourage others to write letters to the Editor of the Royal Gazette and the Bermuda Sun; The Royal Gazette -letters@royalgazette.bm or via mail to PO Box HM1025, Hamilton HMDX, The Bermuda Sun - newsroom@bermudasun.bm, or via mail P.O. Box HM1241 HAMILTON HMFX. (please copy your email to BEST at membership@best.org.bm)
4) Call the local radio talk shows to express your outrage at the Minister’s decision. (if you can, send notes of your comments, and any responses, to BEST at membership@best.org.bm)
5) Support and join other future public protests planned by B.E.S.T which will allow you to express your opposition to such a decision.
Here are some letters that have already been written and sent to the Minister of the Environment:Â
Dear Minister,
As a Bermudian I feel the development of any area of open space in Bermuda would be disastrous for our current population and devastating to the future of our island home. (more…)
