decision to object to Elbow Beach Hotel's massive redevelopment plans.

And president Mrs. Patsy Phillips also denied reports Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan approached her in an attempt to get the Trust to change its mind about opposing the plans.

And she denied Shadow Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen's claim this week there was "significant pressure'' on the Trust not to oppose the Ritz-Carlton plans.

Mr. Allen said he found it an "extraordinary contradiction'' the Trust did not oppose the Ritz-Carlton but is "strenuously objecting'' to the Elbow Beach Hotel's plans.

But Mrs. Phillips said the two sets of plans are "totally different''. She said the Ritz-Carlton was to be built on already developed land, but Elbow Beach's owners were attempting to build on unspoiled sand dunes on the beach as well as on other "virgin land''.

Mrs. Phillips further said the South Shore, Warwick site proposed for the Ritz-Carlton was "not that attractive'' and would have been improved with the landscaping accompanying its development.

She added the developers of the Elbow Beach Hotel planned to put all parking areas above ground, while the Ritz-Carlton developers proposed underground parking.

On Mr. Allen's claim the Trust was pressured into supporting the Ritz- Carlton, she said, "There was no pressure at all. Each development proposal is viewed objectively.'' Sir John, denying he tried to get the Trust to withdraw its objection, said he had simply informed Mrs. Phillips that Government had given the plans in-principle approval and laid down several conditions.

The conditions include moving the proposed "Palace Suites'' off the sand dunes and improving the main access road, he said. He added Government's final approval of the project was also subject to the plans being approved by the DAB.

"The project is very important to Bermuda because of the quality resort it will produce which will attract more visitors and the employment opportunities it will afford us,'' Sir John said.

Environmental Committee chairman Mrs. Lee Davidson said it was unlikely the Trust would withdraw its objection. But she said environmental committee would take another look at the plans if they are changed in any way.

The new Saudi Arabian and American owners of the Elbow Beach Hotel are seeking permission to build a huge conference centre, six-storey addition, 11 "Palace Suites'' and 39 luxury condominiums -- which have Government approval to be sold to non-Bermudians.

The Trust's objections to the plans include the size and height of a proposed six-storey extension, the density of the planned condominium development on property next to the hotel and the beachfront location of the planned two-storey mini hotel housing the "Palace Suites''.

Apart from the Trust, two nearby cottage colonies and a few Paget residents are among the half a dozen objectors to the plans -- now before the DAB for approval.

United Bermuda Party hopefuls in Paget West Mr. Tim Smith, Mr. Mark Selley and Mr. Terry West have also strongly objected to parts of the plans.

Mr. Allen said the PLP was not objecting to the plans because the Elbow Beach Hotel was not located in a "high-density residential area'' like Warwick East where the Ritz-Carlton would have been built. And he said the Ritz-Carlton was planned for a "small 14-acre strip of land'', whereas the Elbow Beach Hotel is spread out over 35 acres of land and is much farther from the roadside.