support behind the Elbow Beach Hotel's expansion plans saying it is time to "forget about petty things and put Bermuda first''.

He said he hopes the multi-million-dollar plans -- which include a six-storey addition, conference centre, 11 "palace suites'' and 39 super-luxury condominiums -- are approved because "Bermuda badly needs to have all first-class facilities''.

Mr. Woolridge added Elbow Beach Hotel is the Island's "most popular'' hotel and its lavish plans to expand come at a time when Bermuda would "greatly benefit'' from an infusion of capital and the generation of more revenue and jobs -- especially in the construction industry.

"Every time someone wants to do good, someone objects,'' he said, claiming, "Strenuous objection is why we lost the Ritz-Carlton.

"That hotel would almost be completed now and in a position to absorb an awful lot of labour if it weren't for unnecessary objections -- it was supposed to be on line in April, 1993!'' He added: "If we are to take full advantage of the North American tax treaty then Elbow is a must to assist the other hotels in getting convention business,'' he said. The Elbow Beach Development Company plans to put in a huge conference centre with six floors of rooms above it.

Mr. Woolridge disagreed the hotel would block the views of two neighbouring cottage colonies. "Elbow Beach is far east of Horizons and the Coral Beach Club,'' he said.

Added Mr. Woolridge: "I want to see the country back on track and all the people employed...people should be damn glad the hotel's owners want to invest in property to make it better.'' His stand comes hot on the heels of the National Trust's announcement it is objecting to the plans and Elbow Beach Hotel Development Company manager Mr.

John Jefferis' comment the resort's new owners "do not intend to go through a Ritz-Carlton-type circus'' to get approval to build.

The Trust's environmental committee cited "grave concern'' about the size and height of a proposed six-storey extension to the hotel as one of its reasons.

It also thinks the planned condominium development on property next to the hotel is "much too dense'' and the planned two-storey mini hotel housing the palace suites is too close to the edge of the beach front and are "far outside the Bermuda image''.

The Trust said although it "strongly believes'' in hotel upgrading, it does not feels Bermuda should "be held ransom to sacrifice and over develop open space for condominiums to raise cash for such hotel improvements''.

Mr. Jefferis told The Royal Gazette this week the hotel's American and Saudi Arabian owners want to start construction on November 1 and need to have answers from the Planning Department by August 3.

Meanwhile, the general manager of Horizons Limited, which owns Coral Beach Club and Horizons and Cottages, said the group's objections go further than its views being obstructed.

"We object strongly to the bloated, grandiose and pompous dimensions of the scheme, completely out of character with the site, the location and the neighbourhood,'' Mr. George Wardman said in a letter to Planning Department, copied to The Royal Gazette .

Mr. Wardman said he was also objecting on behalf of Coral Beach Club's 500 local members and residents who enjoy going to Elbow Beach.

He charged the selection of a ridge on which to build the six-storey addition seemed to be "almost a deliberate affront to this small property''.

"We find it monstrous and appalling that the owners would want to place a building on the highest point of land and then raise it two full storeys above the existing one, already an eyesore.'' Mr. Wardman said the proposed palace suites will be "an ugly and obnoxious intrusion into a natural sand dune''.

"The building will break up the green belt along the entire Elbow and Coral Beaches, ruining them not only for the guests of Horizons Limited and the 500 memberships of the Coral Beach and Tennis Club, but also the considerable members of the general public for whom these beaches serve as a park and recreation area,'' he said.

Hon. C. V. (Jim) Woolridge.