November 25: The Royal Gazette
Bank staff beautify nature reserves
By Sam Strangeways
Weeding and planting was all part of a day’s work for Bank of Bermuda staff last week when they helped out at two nature reserves.
About 200 volunteers worked over four days on beautifying Evans Bay Pond, a plot of land at Skroggins Hill, Southampton, recently donated to the Buy Back Bermuda (BBB) campaign to become a public nature reserve.
Former Premier David Saul, from BBB, said: “They have done a fantastic job. I bet a lot of them woke up the following day with muscles they never knew they had before.”
On Friday, the volunteers joined Bermuda Audubon Society at the Alfred Blackburn Smith Reserve in Paget.
The bank has been giving staff the chance to do good work in the community for the past three years and last week was their third project of 2008.
They have previously volunteered as observers for public school exams and painted seniors’ homes at Elizabeth Hills.
November 18: The Royal Gazette
Ace team improve nature reserve
By Mikaela Ian Pearman
Employees at Ace Bermuda donated a few hours of their time to work on beautifying the Rebecca Middleton Nature Reserve.
On November 6, the Ace Bermuda Technology Team helped transform the reserve, held by the Bermuda National Trust, by managing the invasive plant species.
The volunteers worked all day on the project and said in a statement: “We are proud to have been involved with such a great project. It was a huge undertaking, but the end result was well worth the effort.
“Not only was this a good team building experience, it was also extremely satisfying to know that we were giving back to our community.”
Robert Chandler, field co-ordinator for the Trust called the participants “eco-heroes” and said: “The team worked tirelessly throughout the day and did a tremendous job in beautifying the reserve, removing invasive plants and enhancing its attractiveness with new endemic plantings; work which will be noticed and appreciated by all who use the reserve and pass by on the adjacent Paget Railway Trail.
“The Bermuda National Trust is in gratitude for their efforts. Other organisations wishing to carry out similar work are encouraged to contact the Trust.”
The Trust encourages all members of the corporate community to take part in similar action days that will not only benefit the environment, but everyone who participates.
The Rebecca Middleton Nature Reserve is on Ord Road, Paget, next to the S-Hill Land Nature Reserve on a popular section on the Railway Trail. It is named after the murdered Canadian teenager.
November 16: The Royal Gazette
Entrepreneur seeks green light for his BigBelly compactors
Clare O’Connor
BERMUDA may soon join the ranks of cities such as Boston and Los Angeles and organisations including Harvard University as a local entrepreneur plans to ‘green’ our streets, parks and buildings.
Bermudian retailer John Casling this week told the Mid-Ocean News of his plan to import large solar-powered, computer-operated trash compactors that could revolutionise the way Bermuda manages its waste.
He is currently in discussions with Government bodies and private organisations alike in the hope of launching this new waste management initiative island-wide.
Mr. Casling explained how installing a number of these waste receptacles ¿ called BigBelly solar compactors ¿ could drastically reduce the amount of time, money and energy currently wasted in Bermuda’s trash pick-up efforts, all while benefiting the environment and reducing the island’s carbon footprint.
“We first started a company called Happy Trash Bermuda Ltd, selling brightly-coloured trash bags,” he said.
“As an extension of the business, we wanted to bring in innovative ideas for managing waste. What this BigBelly equipment does is very cool, and eco-friendly. It’s completely solar-powered and compacts up to five times the trash of a normal receptacle.
“There’s a unit attached for recycling cans and bottles. The lid has to be opened, so no rodents or bees can get in, and it eliminates odour.”
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Mr. Casling added that these solar-powered machines all connect wirelessly to a mains computer system, allowing workers to check the status of each BigBelly trash compactor before dispatching any trash trucks out on the roads.
The units take up as much space as an ordinary trash receptable, but with five times more capacity, so they use less fuel and cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 80 per cent.
“These machines have the latest technology: a wireless device, so that when it is full ¿ after compacting five times the normal amount of trash ¿ it sends a message to the main computer, which in turn sends a notification that it is full and needs picking up,” he said.
“This means someone just has to check the computer in the morning, which eliminates tons of trucks on the road collecting trash. It helps the environment and creates less traffic. These garbage trucks only get 2.5 miles to the gallon!
“There is a time factor for Corporation of Hamilton workers; now they can do more important things with their time. Everyone sees the huge advantage of doing this: the wireless technology. For instance, think of some of our parks ¿ Horseshoe Bay, the Arboretum, and Botanical Gardens. The only way you can check if trash needs collecting at those places right now is by physically going, burning gas, and paying peoples’ salaries in the meantime. Now, you just have to go to a computer and see which ones need to be emptied. This saves time as well as being ecologically sound.”
Mr. Casling has approached a number of large Bermudian organisations with his plans, and hopes to be able to start importing these machines soon. He currently has one BigBelly compactor installed at Laffan Street in Hamilton so interested parties can see first hand what they look like and how they work.
“We have been doing demonstrations for Airport Operations, the Department of Parks, and the Corporation of Hamilton, and there has been a tremendous amount of interest,” Mr. Casling said.
“Our market is basically in Government departments, parks, public and private schools, both the Cities and Corporations of Hamilton and St. George’s, and Wedco ¿ all big organisations or Government infrastructure.”
While he is not yet sure how many BigBelly machines will be installed island-wide, he is confident that local organisations will see the long-term benefit, both for the environment and for their budgets.
“They are not cheap; it’s not like buying an empty barrel,” he said.
“But all the studies we’ve seen show that these machines pay for themselves, and the savings go on.”
The city of Boston currently has 150 BigBelly machines installed. Some of its famous landmarks, including baseball stadium Fenway Park, have been test sites for the new technology. Other areas with new BigBelly systems include the Queens borough of New York and Banff in Alberta, Canada, as well as a host of other cities, colleges, beaches, and arenas.
November 15: The Royal Gazette
Recycle Week beings Monday
By Mikaela Ian Pearman
Government yesterday revealed it has shipped eight containers of e-waste to a certified environmental protection agency in the US.
Speaking at a press conference, Minister of Works & Engineering, Derrick Burgess announced Bermuda is to recognise Recycle Week with events next Monday to Friday designed to remind the public about the importance of recycling.
“Recycle Week serves three purposes: to create greater awareness of Bermuda’s recycling programmes, an opportunity for the Ministry to reward the public for participating in our recycling programmes, and to announce our new Participating Retailers Recycling Programme,” he stated.
During the week, residents are invited to tune into Power 95, Mix 106 or Hott 107.5 for a chance to call in and win prizes.
There is also a blue bag recycling contest – contestants just have to label their bags with their phone number and could win dinner for two.
Primary. secondary and middle school students who participate in an aluminium can drive will be given a Bermuda cedar tree courtesy of Save Open Spaces. Schools which collect the most cans will receive $1000 in prize money from the Ministry.
At the end of Recycle Week, there will be an E-waste drop off day at the recycling plant at the Government quarry in Bailey’s Bay.
Members of the public can drop off computers and other electronic items to be recycled. There will also be public tours of the plant at 10 a.m. and 12 noon
The first 50 families to arrive for tours will receive a free pass to visit the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo.
Mr. Burgess also announced another initiative, the Participation Retailer Recycling Programme.
Cell phone and battery recycling will be targeted in its first phase, with bins prominently displayed for drop-offs.
The Minister also reminded the public to refer to the ‘what goes where’ section of the telephone directory whenever unsure about how to dispose of a particular item.
November 14: The Royal Gazette
Bermuda touted as ‘ideal location’ for a miniature nuclear power plant
by Clare O’Connor
BERMUDA would be the ideal location for a miniature nuclear power plant, according to the company licensed by the US Government to develop this revolutionary technology.
The vice-president of Public Policy at New Mexico-based Hyperion Power Generation told the Mid-Ocean News this week that a small nuclear power reactor could potentially cut Bermuda’s power bills in half.
This news comes on the heels of this week’s Department of Statistics report revealing that local fuel and power bills rose 14 per cent between August and September as inflation hit a 17-year high.
Hyperion is currently developing nuclear power plants that take up less space than a garden shed, can be delivered safely by ship and truck, and are buried underground. Representatives from the company are now in talks with developers in the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas and Panama, and believe that Bermuda would be a perfect location to test out this new technology.
“Bermuda would be ideal ¿ really, any island situation would be,” said Deborah Deal-Blackwell, Hyperion’s vice-president of Public Policy.
“The island nations were really the first that came to us a year and a half ago when we were still in research and development, saying that this would be affordable power. They want to pay the same as we do here on the US mainland.”
Ms Deal-Blackwell explained that the miniature nuclear power reactors, which will be mass-produced in around five years’ time, aim to generate electricity for about ten cents per kilowatt-hour. This is less than half of Belco’s current charge of 20.5 cents per kilowatt-hour for residential bill payers.
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“Ten cents per kilowatt-hour is a phenomenal price for people in remote locations ¿ really, it is a good price anywhere in the world,” said Ms. Deal-Blackwell, who noted that her Virginia energy bill is charged at about eight cents per kilowatt-hour.
She said that, should Bermuda’s Government, the public, and Belco be interested in pursuing nuclear power, Hyperion would be able to act quickly once the company’s research and development phase is completed and US regulations have been fulfilled.
“We’re looking at four years, but after that the Bermuda Government or the private owners of the utilities company could call us up and we could get you one in a matter of months,” Ms Deal-Blackwell said.
Hyperion’s miniature reactors are considered relatively safe, with no moving parts or weapons-grade material. Company CEO John Deal told the UK’s Observer newspaper on Sunday that “you could never have a Chernobyl-type event” with a mini nuclear plant.
Mr. Deal told the Observer that Hyperion is targeting “isolated communities”, and plans to build 4,000 of $25-million reactors by 2023. Hyperion’s small nuclear power stations were invented at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where the first atomic bomb was famously developed. The waste produced by one of these reactors after five years is approximately the size of a softball, according to Hyperion.
While Belco’s senior vice-president of Corporate Relations Linda Smith would not rule out the implementation of Hyperion’s nuclear reactors in Bermuda, she believes the technology has yet to be adequately tested.
“There are all kinds of international conventions with anything nuclear,” she said.
“There would have to be public and Government will. The small-scale technology would have to be proven.”
Ms Smith added that Belco met with Nuclear Industry Association of South African secretariat and Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Limited company representative Gert Claasen when he was on the island earlier this year.
Mr. Claasen held a forum entitled ‘Nuclear Energy For Bermuda?’ at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute in May, prompting many Bermudians to consider whether this alternative energy source could lessen the island’s staggering fuel costs.
“It’s inexpensive; it’s the least expensive fuel,” Ms Smith said.
“But there are constraints with safety and disposal. It isn’t a proven technology.”
She added that, while Belco certainly would not rule out the use of miniature reactors on the island, it would be premature to make any decisions before final research and development is carried out.
“It’s unlikely we’ll champion being one of the first places to use this technology, but we’re definitely watching everything,” Ms Smith said. “There’s all kinds of technology emerging. We’re not ruling anything out. We’re going to be careful.”
November 14: The Bermuda Sun
Coral Beach plan draws protest
More than 50 letters of objection have flooded in protesting the proposed redevelopment of Coral Beach Club and Horizons.
The main concerns highlighted in letters to the planning department are the removal of Horizons’ golf course, the increase in traffic on Ord Road and the impact on the environment.
The redevelopment would create a 150-room five star Four Seasons hotel, 20 fractional resort club units and 60 fractional whole ownership resort club units.
Architects OBM International designed the resort, which will be owned by Coral Beach and Tennis Club and Brickman, and managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
Annelies Scheland of Smiths objected specifically to the proposed redevelopment of the Horizons golf course.
“The open space on this beautiful island of Bermuda is declining and will not only affect our generation but also our children’s future,” she wrote. “That little golf course, with its magnificent view over the ocean is a very popular spot for young and old, locals and tourists which should be maintained for recreational purposes.”
Reginald Donald wrote with similar concerns and said: “This golf course has a local group of senior people who get great joy playing daily. To convert this beautiful little gem of property into bricks and mortar would be sacrilegious.”
Mary Middleton Cook, a “direct descendant” of Captain Louis Middleton, the former owner of Horizons, wrote she was concerned the beauty of the original building would be lost.
She added that the proposed new access road would further increase congestion on Southcote and lead to “years of noise disturbance.”
Other Paget residents agreed that they should not have to sacrifice their “peace and quiet” so that future Horizon’s guests could enjoy their tranquility.
Despite the proposed additions, the seventeenth century ‘Old Farm’ at Horizons is expected to remain as it is, as will the former Middleton Hall.
Plans state that the fractional ownership villas will be lower than three storeys in height and will display traditional Bermudian characteristics.
Another resident wrote: “It is unconscionable that the application seeks to reduce traffic congestion on the applicant’s property yet increase traffic congestion on the roads serving nearby residents.”
To reduce traffic congestion between Horizons and South Road, plans suggest an access road with the western tribe road adjoining the property, serviced from Ord Road, as well as wider entry to the public beach at the top of the tribe road.
The Bermuda National Trust also wrote a letter of complaint arguing that almost half of the proposed 60 fractional/whole units would encroach on Conservation Base Zones and Conservation Areas - leading to the fragmentation of key conservation sites.
Environmentalist Stuart Hayward wrote, on behalf of the Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce, that they had several concerns about the redevelopment plans - specifically the potential impact of the sewage plants, and an electricity generative plant, and the development of agricultural reserve areas.
Currently Horizons and Coral Beach Club cover 52 acres, of which 49 per cent is “developable” land and 51 per cent is classed as conservation zones.
Letters of protest came from overseas, as well as Bermuda.
Roger Barth, an attorney in Washington DC wrote: “I have visited Bermuda 70-plus times over the years and I am a member of the Coral Beach and Tennis Club. I am writing on behalf of myself and several other Club members to object [to the plans]…There will be a significant loss of space and a serious increase in traffic. Given the worsening economic situation, we do not believe another hotel is necessary at this time.”
George Wardman, CEO of Horizons Ltd., operators of Coral Beach, and Horizons has said that the partnership with New York-based real estate firm Brickman would enable the company to get the investment it needed to redevelop the award-winning properties. Mr. Wardman was off-island when we tried to reach him yesterday to response to the objections.
If approved, construction will begin in January, with an opening date for the hotel set for May 2012.
November 12: The Royal Gazette
rocess started to find who will clean up Morgan’s Point
By Amanda Dale
Moves are underway to kick-start the multimillion dollar clean-up of Morgan’s Point, with contractors invited to apply for tender.
Those interested have until 3 p.m. on Friday to submit a ‘Request for Qualification’ to Government.
An advertisement in the Official Gazette on November 7 stated: ‘The Ministry of Works and Engineering is currently in the process of reviewing potential contractors for the undertaking of remediation works at Morgan’s Point.
‘Interested contractors are invited to obtain a pre-qualification package from the Ministry of Works and Engineering reception desk.’
The former US Naval Air Station is heavily polluted with asbestos, metals, petroleum products and other chemicals.
Any environmental remediation will have to tackle 500,000 gallons of jet fuel lying dormant, while Bassett’s Cave has a layer of viscous oil some two feet deep floating on the surface.
Whoever is awarded the work faces significant challenges. Storage tanks used to store petroleum products such as lubricating oils, diesel, kerosene and jet fuel, have cracked and corroded over time, resulting in leaks.
Morgan’s Point also has concrete sea plane ramps and reinforced buildings with walls several feet thick — some of which contain asbestos.
Government says taxpayers will foot the bill of the clean-up, which is necessary to pave the way for the proposed Jumeirah resort.
It is not yet known what those costs will be, but an independent report in 1997 by consultants J.A. Jones Environmental Services Company estimated the clean-up of the 260-acre peninsula at $15 million.
Opposition MP Dr. Grant Gibbons, former Management and Technology Minister, said the removal of hazardous waste could now reach $25 million, although former Environment Minister El James refuted this earlier this year.
Mr. James said remediation work would not cost this much, but that an accurate sum was not yet available.
Government allocated $125.3 million in this year’s Budget to capital projects, including the clean-up of Morgan’s Point.
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It issued an RFP (Request for Proposals) for ‘client representation services’ in July 2007 for a tender to manage the process.
The clean-up of the peninsula was recommended both in Bermuda’s draft Sustainable Development Strategy and Implementation Plan (SDSIP) and by the Sustainable Development Roundtable.
The SDSIP stated: “The continuing pressure for development on open space elsewhere on the Island could be relieved by using Morgan’s Point.
“The trade-off is protecting greenfield sites across Bermuda from development, by utilising Morgan’s Point which is a ‘brownfield’ site due to its previous development and resultant contamination.”
The Sustainable Development Roundtable, at a meeting in November 2005, concluded: “The SDRT feels strongly that the highest priority for the Morgan’s Point property is to clean it up so that it becomes usable.
“It is a piece of land that could enable us to save high quality land elsewhere, and protect open space in densely populated areas.”
Expert ‘astounded’ we don’t use much solar power
By Mikaela Ian Pearman
An internationally-renowned expert on sustainable architecture said he was “astounded” that Bermuda operates on so much electricity instead of solar power.
Architect Edward Mazria gave a lecture Friday at XL House, focusing on “exploring the benefits of changing the way buildings and developments are planned, designed and constructed in order to protect our global environment”.
Mr. Mazria is the founder of Architecture 2030, a non-profit, non-partisan, independent organisation, which was established in 2002, in response to the global-warming crisis.
Its mission is to rapidly transform the US and global building sector from being major contributors of greenhouse gas emissions, to a central part of the solution to the global-warming crisis.
The 2030 challenge in particular, explained Mr. Mazria, is to reduce energy by 50 percent through new buildings and major renovations, and by the year 2030, ensure all buildings are carbon neutral.
The architect said there are three ways to meet the challenge. The first is through design, planning and innovation by using ventilation, heating and the right building materials.
The second way is by adding technology in the form of solar heating, operable shading devices and natural ventilation systems.
The final way to meet the challenge is by purchasing renewable energy.
Mr. Mazria said Bermuda has “a good shot at reducing its emissions and making some money” by implementing a building energy standard that meets the challenge.
He said the situation in Bermuda is very similar to that in Hawaii except there, they use more solar power.
The architect explained there were several environmentally-friendly initiatives the Island could embark on today that would reduce its energy use by 50 percent – require all buildings to include solar water heating, remove tariffs for solar hot water and photovalic systems, incorporate net metering and enact a national renewable portfolio standard.
With sea levels rising all over the world, Mr. Mazria said that he was also concerned that so many buildings on the Island have been built so close to the edge of the water.
For more information on the 2030 challenge, visit www.architecture2030.com.
November 10: The Royal Gazette
Blakeney keeps an ‘open mind’ on Southlands future
By Amanda Dale
New Environment Minister Glenn Blakeney says he will keep “an open mind” towards Southlands but remains confident it will become a national park.
Environmental groups have expressed concern the Cabinet reshuffle will bring a change in priorities, coming a day after former Minister El James pledged to “fight” for Southlands to become a national park.
Last Tuesday Mr. James was named Education Minister, with Government Whip Mr. Blakeney taking over Environment and Sports.
Greenrock president Andrew Vaucrosson questioned the “hasty” move of Mr. James from the Environment portfolio following his “public promise” to protect Southlands a day before.
Mr. Vaucrosson said: “One cannot expect a new Minister to take over a portfolio and automatically accept the direction of his predecessor. These sorts of changes can be very disruptive and can lower the public’s trust in Government. It makes one wonder can Bermuda live up to its ‘talk’.”
When The Royal Gazette asked Mr. Blakeney whether he would protect Southlands as a national park, he said: “Absolutely, to the degree that it is not in contravention to the Plan (Bermuda Plan 2008) which has been proposed.”
He added: “I think that’s (a national park) something everybody would like to see.
“We need to protect as much open space as we can, notwithstanding progress and a commitment to sustainability.”
In the Draft Bermuda Plan however, parts of Southlands are still zoned as Tourism and Residential One. Mr. Blakeney remained uncommittal when asked whether, as Minister, he would push for the removal of the ‘development’ zoning.
The new Minister said he was still to examine his portfolio ‘brief’, but responded: “I would have to consider the grounds on which the zoning is based, in consideration as well of where in the footprint of the property it applies.
“For example, it could be a 10ft square in a little corner and need not have a detrimental impact on the grand scheme, so I would leave my mind open, to see what the details are, and what the impact would be.
“I am keeping an open mind at the moment. I think that’s fair to all stakeholders, not least to Bermuda – in the interests of the national interest.”
Mr. Blakeney added: “The Premier and the elected representative for the area (MP Alex Scott) have committed they would do all within their power to ensure there is protection of that particular open space area.
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“I don’t think there’s much to worry about.”
He said: “I think it would be unlikely Government would go down that same road (of a hotel development). I feel confident there will be a very in-depth look at the long-term implications relevant to Bermuda and what that open space means to the benefit of the country.
“Originally I didn’t have much problem with the (Southlands) development in the face of the challenges we had with the dearth of hotels to support tourism, however when the relevant concerns were raised, such as traffic congestion and the impact on the environment, and with Morgan’s Point being an option, it seemed to be a no-brainer.”
Announcing the land swap between Southlands and Morgan’s Point in April, Premier Ewart Brown said it was “most likely” Southlands would become a national park. Since then however, Government has declined to comment on its plans for the 37-acre South Shore estate.
Mr. Blakeney said: “There are things we are working towards and when hard decisions are made and Government feels the time is right, the public will know. Until such time there is nothing that imparts from my knowledge that the Premier or Government has had a change of heart.”
Lead by example with water message, say environmentalists
By Amanda Dale
The Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce has welcomed Government plans to encourage water conservation, but warns the campaign must lead by example.
Government announced its Water Conservation Campaign during Friday’s Throne Speech. Over the next Parliamentary Session, it will raise public awareness on the importance of saving water through presentations, campaign literature, and print and electronic media.
The Royal Gazette however – the Island’s only daily newspaper – looks unlikely to be included in the campaign. When asked whether Government’s ban on advertising in this newspaper was likely to change soon, Premier Ewart Brown said: “I doubt it.”
The Throne Speech stated: “The Government is committed towards ensuring the availability of sufficient amounts of drinking water and water for other household uses for the people of Bermuda.
“In this regard, the Government will introduce a comprehensive Water Conservation Campaign to heighten public awareness about the critical importance of water conservation.
“This campaign will involve public presentations, advertising via the print and electronic media, and the production of brochures, banners, leaflets, posters and other campaign literature for Island-wide dissemination.”
Government said the campaign would “complement the opening of the new 500,000 gallons per day Tynes Bay Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plant on North Shore”.
“The new plant will reduce Bermuda’s dependency on rainwater significantly,” it said.
Reverse osmosis is a form of water treatment used to process seawater into drinking water and the new $10 million plant will help to make up shortfalls in homes in the central parishes. The Tynes Bay plan, due to open shortly, will also have the capability for upgrades which could double its capacity to a million gallons per day.
Said Robert Horton, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Engineering: “Water is a precious resource in Bermuda and as such should be conserved.
“The conservation campaign is part of the overall water management strategy for the Island. Happily, there are no problems with the water supply currently. However, the conservation campaign will remind residents of the need to ensure that their water systems are adequately maintained and inform them of ways to save water.
“RBK, a local advertising firm, has been contracted to prepare the public campaign promoting water conservation. The desired outcomes will be accomplished through television and radio commercials, a website on the Government portal and ads in the Bermuda Sun.
“DVDs and information booklets on water conservation will also be distributed throughout the schools. We will also be distributing information to the hotels for guests visiting the Island.
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“The information presented will target homeowners informing them about maintaining their water system, methods of saving water in the home, how to calculate water requirements for a home, and tips on maintaining the quality of their water.
“The Tynes Bay Reverse Osmosis Plant is scheduled to produce water by next week with an official opening to follow. The plant will service households generally in the central parishes. The water will be distributed through the piped mains system and the truckers’ outlets in Prospect and on North Shore, Devonshire.”
BEST chairman Stuart Hayward however, warned the Water Conservation Campaign should not be treated in isolation – that energy conservation must be in tandem.
Mr. Hayward said: “Bermuda has been well served by its rainwater collection systems for hundreds of years and when residents relied only upon rainwater, conservation was a natural pastime.
“To meet the need for additional drinking water, since the early 1980’s Government has harvested the fresh and brackish waters from the several large underground water lenses across the Island, which are replenished by rainfall and so are a truly renewable resource.
“It appears that the demand for additional drinking water has now exceeded the capability of the fresh and brackish water lenses to meet demand, especially during severe droughts. In addition to an expanding population, tourists and guest workers are the major per-capita users of water. We are also having to plan for luxury hotel schemes with water and energy-wasting fountains, waterfalls and cascades.
“The use of seawater conversion plants such as at Tynes Bay are energy-intensive and therefore expensive. Their carbon footprint is substantially higher than those plants that convert fresh and brackish water.
“This is where conservation comes in. To minimise the use of the higher energy water conversion plants, local and guest residents must consider how they use their water to see if use could be trimmed without impacting upon their quality of life.
“Government has presented several successful water conservation programmes in the last 30 years so it should not require much more than an update of existing documentation to quickly get this programme into action.
“Most importantly, we should not be approaching the concept of conservation in a silo fashion, acting as though it’s important to conserve water but not equally important to conserve energy (turning off lights overnight in Government buildings) or fuel (driving smaller vehicles at lower speeds).
“Wastefulness – whether of water, energy, or exhibited in extravagant tastes in vehicles, entertainment or lifestyle – is the opposite of conservation and ultimately unsustainable.
“It will be counter-productive to resort to wasteful practices in pursuit of conservation goals. The campaign itself must epitomise the message it intends to carry. This seems to be a factor so far missing from the Government’s approach to conservation.”
November 6: The Royal Gazette
Dismay at Minister’s move the day after his pledge to fight for a Southlands park
By Amanda Dale
Environmental and conservation groups have spoken of their regret at the departure of Environment Minister Elvin James.
The Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST), Greenrock, and the Bermuda National Trust commented on Tuesday’s Cabinet reshuffle just a day after Mr. James’ pledge to protect Southlands from development.
Sustainable development group Greenrock also expressed concern that the reshuffle could prove “disruptive” to the Ministry. President Andrew Vaucrosson questioned the “hasty” move of Mr. James from the Environment portfolio following his “public promise”.
BEST and the National Trust have both lodged objections to the Bermuda Draft Plan 2008, in that Southlands is still zoned as Tourism and Residential One, despite Premier Ewart Brown’s assertion that it was “most likely” to become a national park.
Since the announcement of the land swap between Southlands and Morgan’s Point in April, Government has declined to comment further on its plans for the 37-acre South Shore estate.
Owners Southlands Ltd. were given 80 acres of brownfield land at Morgan’s Point in exchange for the greenfield site, with the former US Naval Air Station to become the new location for the Jumeirah hotel project.
At a press conference on Monday, Mr. James, when asked whether Southlands would become a national park, replied: “I represent the Environment. I would fight for it all the way.”
On Tuesday however, Dr. Brown announced Mr. James is to be the new Education Minister while Government Whip Glenn Blakeney is to take over the Environment and Sports portfolio.
Yesterday, BEST chairman Stuart Hayward said: “Too bad we had to lose Environment Minister El James after he got religion, so to speak, and pledged to fight all the way for the Southlands property to become a park.
“Mr. Blakeney has yet to distinguish himself, either as a Minister or as a champion of the environment. We’ll just have to wait and see.
“Always when you have a quick change of Minister it takes a while to get a new Minister up to speed, and during that time it’s the environment of the people which may suffer.”
Mr. Hayward added: “It’s unfortunate the Environment is such a low priority to the Government in that it’s treated to the most junior and most new of Ministers.”
National Trust director Jennifer Gray said: “We are sorry to hear El James is leaving as Environment Minister, especially on the heels of his support for Southlands. We wish him the best of luck in his new Ministry. We hope the transfer goes well and we welcome Glenn Blakeney into the Ministry.”
Andrew Vaucrosson, president of Greenrock, said: “On behalf of Greenrock, I was not surprised to learn about the changing of the guard in Cabinet.
“(Education Minister) Randy Horton’s dismissal was expected, considering the Party leadership challenge several weeks ago. El James’ move seems hasty and somewhat awkward when you consider his public promise that Southlands will, under his watch, become public parkland in response to BEST and Bermuda National Trust concerns.
“And the addition of Glenn Blakeney – who has never held a Government portfolio – only seems natural considering that the Environment Ministry seems to be the training ground for up-and-coming team players.
“Greenrock has stated in numerous cases that mid-term Cabinet shuffles like this tend to have a detrimental effect on the execution of promises and policies within any given Ministry. One cannot expect a new Minister to take over a portfolio and automatically accept the direction of his predecessor.
“Only logic says, if the predecessor was doing such an outstanding job there would be no reason to move them mid-term. Under Government’s own Sustainable Development plan (Theme 5: Transforming Governance and the Public Sector), there is lengthy discussion about cross-departmental collaboration and improving trust between Ministers and senior civil servants.
“Bermuda has always promoted itself as a jurisdiction that has ’stable’ government. Education and the Environment Ministries are important Ministries to our social fabric and sustainable development. These sorts of changes can be very disruptive and can lower the public’s trust in Government. It makes one wonder can Bermuda live up to its ‘talk’.”
November 6: The Royal Gazette
Morgan’s Point land deal closer, says Brown
By Sam Strangeways
Government is still locked in negotiations over the Morgan’s Point/Southlands land swap but is edging closer towards a deal being struck, Premier Ewart Brown said last night.
He told members of the public in Southampton that a meeting was planned today with the Southlands Group to discuss the issue.
“With every meeting, hopefully it gets a little closer,” he said. “I think the Government wants a hotel there (on Morgan’s Point) as badly as anybody. We are not holding anything up just for the sake of it.”
The Premier explained that Government planned to hand over 80 acres of the publicly-owned 260-acre deserted Morgan’s Point peninsula to the Southlands Group in exchange for the 37-acre Southlands site. A golf course will take up another 130-acres at Morgan’s Point.
What is still being negotiated, said Dr. Brown at the PLP meeting for constituencies 32 and 33, is how the rest of the Morgan’s Point site in Southampton will be developed.
“There are 40 acres essentially left, maybe less, for whatever else the Government would like to do on that property,” he said. “Before we can consummate the deal on the 80 acres we have to be satisfied and agreed on what’s going to happen to the rest.
“We felt that the prudent thing to do was to work through the development ideas outside of the swap first and that’s where we are to this day.”
The land swap idea came about after a public outcry over the Jumeirah Hotel Group’s plans to build a five-star hotel on Southlands in Warwick.
The owners of Southlands, the Southlands Group, proposed a deal whereby the resort would be built instead on Morgan’s Point, a contaminated former US Naval Base, and Southlands would pass into public ownership.
Dr. Brown was asked last night whether Jumeirah was likely to keep waiting for a deal to be agreed. “They have been very patient all along, by the way,” he replied. “I don’t think that it’s going to take much longer.
“I think that the real challenge today, not just for that developer but for most developers in hospitality, is finding the money. That’s their business, not mine. We are trying to get it done and keep Jumeirah in the mix. I’d hate to see them leave.”
A woman in the audience said she understood that Jumeirah was finding it tough to secure funding without a deal in place.
“That, I suppose, has some weight,” said Dr. Brown, adding: “Morgan’s Point is the last piece of property in Bermuda that’s owned by the Government or anyone else on which you could place a five-star resort, other than what’s already spoken for.
“We have to be extremely careful. That’s the people’s land. We really have to agree on how that land is going to be used. I think we can get there.”
Dr. Brown said much of the contaminated land at Morgan’s Point would be used for the golf course. “The plan is to have a trophy golf course that would work in conjunction with Port Royal,” he said.
November 5: The Royal Gazette
National Trust admits error in its objection
By Tim Smith
The National Trust yesterday welcomed the near completion of the Southlands-Morgan’s Point land swap — and repeated its call for Southlands to be designated a park in the Bermuda Plan 2008.
The Trust now accepts it made an error in its objection by mistakenly implying that the Draft Bermuda Plan 2008 contained a larger area of land zoned for high density housing than the Bermuda Plan 1992.
However, it said this does not change its objection to the draft plan which zones the land for Residential One and Tourism Development.
On Monday, 24 hours before dropping the Environment portfolio to take over as Education Minister, El James announced Government was “almost there” with the exchange which would see the Jumeirah resort built at Morgan’s Point instead of Southlands.
Mr. James said as Environment Minister he would “fight all the way” for Southlands to then be made a public park.
Responding yesterday, the Trust stated: “The National Trust is encouraged to hear that the land swap agreement is near to completion and that progress is being made toward the site being designated a national park and hopes to see this reflected in the final Bermuda Plan 2008 when it is published.”
In its objection to the draft plan, the Trust had stated: “Unlike the 1992 Bermuda Plan, a significant area of the northern section of the property has been zoned as Residential One.”
Yesterday’s statement said the Trust now accepted this was an error and that the same amount of area is zoned for Residential One in both plans.
The Trust said this was a clerical mix-up but stressed it does not make any difference to its desire for the land swap to be reflected in the new plan.
November 4: The Royal Gazette
Minister: ‘I’ll fight for Southlands park’
By Tim Smith
Environment Minister El James yesterday pledged to fight all the way for Southlands to be turned into a national park.
Mr. James said an exchange was nearly completed which would see the Jumeirah hotel resort built at Morgan’s Point instead of Southlands — and Southlands becoming Government land.
The National Trust and environment group BEST have both lodged objections to the draft plan and expressed their disappointment that Southlands has not been declared a public park despite Premier Ewart Brown’s stating in April that it probably would.
Asked if Southlands will become a public park, Mr. James told the media: “I represent the environment. I would fight for it all the way.”
He added that he believed the Progressive Labour Party was a party concerned about its duty to public spaces.
Regarding progress on the land swap, which was announced seven months ago, the Minister said: “Any time two people get together, it takes a little time. We are almost there.”
He refuted a suggestion that problems with the global economy had delayed the deal.
Mr. James also denied the National Trust’s suggestion that the Draft Bermuda Plan 2008 offers Southlands less protection against residential developments than the Bermuda Plan 1992.
At a press conference, the Minister produced copies of 1992 and 2008 plans, which he said both had the same amount of land zoned as high density ‘Residential One’.
However, one section at the north of Southlands, which was labelled woodland in 1992, now appears to be labelled differently, making it unclear whether it is residential, woodland or a combination of both.
Former United Bermuda Party candidate Jeff Sousa, who lost out to former Premier Alex Scott in Warwick South East at last year’s General Election, called for residents to keep up the pressure to ensure the land becomes a park.
Mr. Sousa said: “The people of Warwick South East just have to be adamant that they make sure they are contacting their representative Alex Scott and the Premier.
“Many Bermudian brothers and sisters are so humble … people have to understand this is their
Regarding Mr. James’ comments yesterday, Mr. Sousa said: “El is an environment guy. Hopefully he’s a man of his word and that happens because it’s the right thing to do for Bermuda.
“Morgan’s Point has been sitting there idle for quite some time. It could be something that benefits all of Bermuda.”
According to an advert in this newspaper yesterday, the Premier will unveil plans for the development at Morgan’s Point at a PLP meeting for Constituencies 32 and 33 at Dalton E. Tucker Primary School.
Dr. Brown said there would be very little new information outside the swap and proposed trophy golf course, telling The Royal Gazette: “I am more interested in hearing feedback from the people on this major development.”
November 3: The Royal Gazette
Could Southlands still be developed?
By Tim Smith
A large part of Southlands could be developed for homes — despite Premier Ewart Brown saying it was intended to become a public park.
Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) and the National Trust have lodged objections after a significant area in the north of Southlands was labelled “Residential One” in the Draft Bermuda Plan 2008 — potentially permitting the highest density housing allowed in Bermuda. The National Trust also says it has received no confirmation regarding the proposed land swap agreement which is supposed to see the five-star Jumeirah hotel switched from the Warwick South Shore estate to Morgan’s Point.
Announcing the exchange in April, Dr. Brown described Southlands as a “gorgeous piece of property and beach” which acts as an environmental buffer to development surrounding it. Dr. Brown said it would “most likely” become a national park.
At the time, environment groups cheered the move to protect the Southlands woodland and lead to a transformation of the neglected brownfield former US baseland. In a third party objection to the draft plan, the National Trust said the introduction of the residential zone is “contrary to the purported intent of the land swap agreement”.
“The Bermuda National Trust understood that the exchange was so that the 37-acre Southlands Estate would be preserved in a relatively undeveloped state and made accessible to the general public,” wrote the Trust. The Bermuda National Trust had hoped to have received confirmation that the 37-acre Southlands Estate was to be turned into a public park for everyone in Bermuda to use and enjoy and are saddened that this has not yet occurred.
“Also, no confirmation has been received that the land swap agreement has been executed.”
BEST’s submission states: “This land exchange has undoubtedly served to save the Southlands property from a severely environmentally damaging and hugely unpopular development.”
But complaining about the lack of protection from unsuitable proposals, it continues: “The Government has clearly indicated an intention for the Southlands property to become a national park.
“The Premier, Dr. Ewart Brown, has been quoted as saying Southlands will never again be anonymous, particularly now as we reveal a plan that will shift that gorgeous piece of property and beach from private hands into the hands of every Bermudian.
“Now that the Southlands property is under public ownership, we respectfully submit that it is rezoned as National Park and Open Space Reserve to reflect the stated intentions of the Government and the express will of the Bermudian public.”
The Department of Planning must now consider the objections and if the issue cannot be resolved a tribunal process is likely. In the land swap, which followed a 3,400-name “Save South Shore” petition by BEST, developer Southlands Ltd. gets 80 acres of publicly owned land at Morgan’s Point and Government picks up 37 acres of open space at Southlands.
BEST chairman Stuart Hayward told The Royal Gazette last night: “Our disappointment is on having to remain so vigilant to prevent environmental desecration.
“The public fought hard to preserve this beautiful piece of property from being built over with glass and concrete. The Government has verified its worth by giving up more than twice as much land at Morgan’s Point in exchange for this choice lot.
“It is distressing that we now have to chide and goad the Government to honour the value they placed on this plot of land and protect it from development now and in the future. We all worked hard to rescue Southlands from developers.
“The least the Government could do would be to cover the entire acreage with protective zoning to preserve it and parkland and nature reserve for current and future generations.”
The Environment Ministry offered no response yesterday, while Dr. Brown’s Press Secretary Glenn Jones could not be reached.