the prosperous tourism years of the early 1980s, a backer of the proposed Bermuda Financial Centre Ltd. claimed yesterday.

The Southampton Princess was the last large hotel to be built in Bermuda -- and that was some 20 years ago, Mr. Jeff Conyers said.

And in the past several years, Bermuda has lost two major hotels, the 325-room Club Med and the 225-room Bermudiana Hotel -- the site of the proposed building.

Mr. Conyers further stated the vacant Bermudiana site was a "disgrace to our Island''.

"In 1970 there were some 112 hotels licenced in Bermuda. In 1993 there are only 80,'' he said.

Plans for the BFCL 300-room luxury hotel would "hardly replace the rooms lost by the closure of even just the Bermudiana'', he said.

"While we understand that many of the smaller properties are doing extremely well from the travelling business sector, there is clearly a need for more hotel spaces and clear indications that this type of business sector will increase in the coming years.'' He added: "If any of us have a hope of returning to the successful days of the early eighties, there is a clear need for new hotel rooms.'' Mr. Jeff Conyers, who works for First Bermuda Securities, which is helping to finance the project, made the comments in accusing objectors to the $130 million plans of a conflict of interest.

Waterloo House, Rosedon, Royal Palms Hotel and Rosemont Guest Apartments were the latest objectors to the proposal.

"This concept can be successful but it would be a real shame for Bermuda if it were to be negated by the interests of those who feel they have something to lose from competition,'' he said. "This project in unique. It is an inter-active hotel/office concept which can succeed and which is necessary to Bermuda.'' Mr. Conyers said BFCL developers did not believe the Development Applications Board should take into consideration complaints by people "who clearly have a conflict of interest without regard having being given to the future potential of the project...being carefully balanced into the equation''.

The BFCL would also offer significant new jobs.

Mandarin Oriental and Four Seasons-Regent, the two hotel management chains which want to manage the BFCL hotel, had pledged major training programmes for Bermudians at sister hotels abroad.

Mr. Conyers added international companies were "convinced'' there was a need for more comfortable and modern office space.

Calling themselves Hamilton Properties Ltd., the four small guest properties, all in walking distance to the vacant Bermudiana site, said the proposed development was "excessive'' and "extremely intrusive''.

They said the design of the proposed office blocks, hotel and landscaping scheme was poor and there was potential for traffic hazards.

The Corporation of Hamilton has also objected and the National Trust has filed a pro-tem objection saying it needed more time to look at the plans.