In the latest of a series on Premier the Hon. David Saul's Cabinet, The Royal Gazette profiles new Environment Minister the Hon. Tim Smith.

Calling himself "a pragmatic environmentalist'', newly-appointed Environment Minister the Hon. Tim Smith has plans to streamline the Planning Department and tighten the Island's sign laws.

One of Bermuda's youngest-ever Cabinet Ministers at 33, Mr. Smith has been chief operating officer at office supplier A.F. Smith Trading Co. Ltd. for the past five years.

He wants to put his business experience to work in making the Planning Department more "customer-focused''.

Soon after taking office, he gave the department 60 days to implement a list of changes, including: improvements to the public waiting area; preparation of a householder's guide to the Planning system; introduction of a customer feedback form to be available at the front counter; posting of the department's mission statement and pledge of service in the public foyer; and the organisation of tours by schools and other members of the public during Planning Week.

Mr. Smith said he also plans a round-table discussion with architects, surveyors, and engineers, who frequently deal with Planning.

Stepping into his new portfolio just as an outcry broke over proposed development in the Tucker's Town area, Mr. Smith has promised a review of the Planning process. But he maintains the current system is essentially sound, including provisions in law which allow developers to appeal Development Application Board decisions to the Environment Minister.

An area for possible improvement, he said, was how appeals were handled when the Minister has declared a conflict of interest or is off the Island.

Currently, such appeals are handled by the acting Minister.

Mr. Smith and his Scottish-born wife Susan have no children. A self-described "workaholic'' who enjoys tennis and reading books about business and politics in his spare time, Mr. Smith boasts a thick resume, despite his youth.

A past deputy chairman of the United Bermuda Party, Mr. Smith chairs the National Youth Council and the Public Works Board. In his former role as Deputy Speaker, he chaired or sat on numerous House of Assembly committees.

Mr. Smith, a 1983 graduate of the University of Richmond in Virginia who majored in marketing, said Planning suffers partly from an "image problem''.

"As an extremely law-driven department and regulation-driven department, the users of the Department of Planning would claim if an application doesn't go in their favour, then it's obstructionist,'' he said.

The Paget West MP, who has served as Deputy Speaker since he was first elected to the House of Assembly in October of 1993, feels he, too, may have an image problem.

"I think the environmentalists don't particularly like it,'' Mr. Smith said of his appointment. But, "this Minister may be more sensitive to the environment than other Ministers by the mere fact of his age.

"My generation has been made more environmentally aware than other generations.'' "I would label myself as a pragmatic environmentalist,'' Mr. Smith said.

"I'm trying to look 50 years from now and what Bermuda might look like.'' "There will be need for additional development, and what I would like to see is the preservation of open space and the redevelopment of currently underdeveloped areas -- I think we're going to see a lot more of that.'' In November, a discussion paper called a Green Paper would be tabled in the House of Assembly dealing with advertising regulations and signage, Mr. Smith said.

"The goal is to be cognisant of Bermuda as a tourist destination, and where signs seem to be detracting from the beauty of the Island as a destination, then we will look for probably more effective enforcement.'' "A lot of consultation has already taken place with the private sector,'' he said. "I think at the end we'll come up with a very sensible balance.'' In other areas, Mr. Smith said plans for a new Animal Control Act to replace the Dogs Act would be announced in the Throne Speech. It would control not just dogs, but rabbits, chickens and other animals and birds, and "the Dog Warden would be not just a Dog Warden, but an Animal Warden''.

There would be some minor adjustments to regulations under the Fisheries Act, he said. And, "there are some issues with the fishermen that they believe deserve addressing, like a location at which to prepare fish for export.

"I'm very open-minded on that.'' Responsibility for "Natural Resources'' has been added to the title of Mr.

Smith's portfolio. He said Premier the Hon. David Saul is involved in behind-the-scenes talks with the United Kingdom Government about establishment of a 200-mile economic zone around Bermuda.

Currently, Bermuda only has a 12-mile territorial water zone and a 200-mile fishing zone, Mr. Smith said.