Today is the last day for members of the public to voice their views to the Environment Minister on whether or not they believe the Southlands proposal should be granted a Special Development Order.

Since late last year, when the Southlands Planning documents first became public, a myriad of citizens and officials have spoken out on the controversial project. Here is a small sample of the wide array of comments.

Cole Simons, Shadow Environment Minister: “Government should purchase the 37-acre Southlands property for conversion to a national park to benefit all Bermudians for generations to come. It should open negotiations with the property owners to conclude a fair price. Failing that, the Government could proceed by way of compulsory purchase order.” — February 22, 2007

Premier Ewart Brown, Tourism Minister: “I am very aware of the voices in the community that have been expressing concern about the creation of this property. We have heard and we have listened. However, as one of the most ambitious and creative tourism projects in Bermuda’s history, Jumeirah Southlands represents a winning proposition for Bermuda, its people and the tourism industry.” — January 21, 200>

Stuart Hayward, Chairman of BEST<$>: “The public needs to be cautious in their acceptance of statements made by the developers, who have shown by the timing of their application, their selective presentation of information and their seeking to overturn zoning and protective covenants, that their priorities may not be in Bermuda’s interest.” — February 22, 2007.

Alex Scott, MP for Warwick South Eas$>(the Southlands constituency): “Bermuda is tourism-based and we do need (hotel) beds.” He also told the Bermuda Sun: “We are keeping an ear out for how our constituents feel about it.” — January 5, 2007

Julian Darrall-Rew, former Southlands resid<$>: “In London, many old and historical properties have been demolished in the name of greed without consideration of the fact that these actions remove part of the heritage future generations would treasure. Bermuda will be done a very great disservice if it copies this.” — January 20, 2007

Craig Christensen, Southlands developer: “I’m glad people stand up in Bermuda and want to be heard because otherwise people would build anywhere. When I come back from Florida I look around the Island and I’m proud at how we have managed our development. So we are very sensitive to what we are doing. I have to walk down the street and I do not want to be criticised for what I’ve done.” — February 5, 7

Minister Neletha Butterfield, Environment:<$> “Many many years ago some of the open space that we have now had been zoned as tourism. And that’s what is happening with Southlands — not all of it is zoned as tourism, but part of it is zoned as tourism for the future. And that future has come.” — January 17, 2007