expansion plans as Tourism Minister the Hon. CV (Jim) Woolridge.

Although Mr. Tim Smith, Mr. Mark Selley and Mr. Terry West are each hoping to win an upcoming primary to become an adopted candidate of the ruling United Bermuda Party, they have made it clear they don't agree with Mr. Woolridge throwing his complete support behind the multi-million dollar redevelopment plans.

And they said yesterday that feedback on the plans from Paget West residents has also been negative.

The three aspiring politicians all supported the South Shore, Paget hotel wanting to expand and improve its facilities. But they questioned the need for 39 super-luxury condominiums and are concerned about the location of the proposed beachfront mini-hotel housing 11 Palace suites.

Mr. Selley took the strongest stand against the plans, claiming the proposed condominiums on the adjoining Fritholme Estate will look "horrific''.

"Government can't be seen to be allowing wealthy foreigners to come in here and build super-structures on our open space when the Environment Minister (the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto) put the new Bermuda Development Plan into effect to make sure people can't develop property they have invested in,'' he said. "Why should foreigners be allowed to come in and build on open land?'' Mr. Selley pointed out the Fritholme family wanted to develop the land themselves but were turned down by the Development Applications Board.

"Government is pushing for approval of the hotel's plans to make up for the loss of the Ritz Carlton,'' Mr. Selley charged.

Mr. Woolridge claimed this week the hotel's plans were approved in principle by all Government ministers following a report from a special committee set up to study them.

Mr. Selley said that expanding the hotel may create jobs, but questioned how many of those jobs would actually be filled by Bermudians.

And he said negative feedback from residents he canvassed came mostly from those who live very near to the hotel.

Mr. West said apart from having concerns over the proposed Palace Suites and 39 condominiums, he was "surprised'' a proposed six-storey extension of the 300-room hotel was set for a hilltop. He suggested stepping it up the hillside instead.

"I support the conference centre and employment opportunity (that expanding the hotel would create),'' Mr. West said. "But I am very surprised at the location of the Palace Suites.

He charged it was "unnecessary'' to build the suites on the sand dunes above Elbow Beach and suggested developers push them back about 30 to 40 feet into the parking lot so they are less of an eyesore to beachgoers.

Mr. West added he was "sceptical'' the development of condominiums was to finance the hotel's expansion plans as the manager of Elbow Beach Hotel Development Company Mr. John Jefferis has stated.

The Royal Gazette revealed last week that Government gave the hotel's American and Saudi Arabian owners special permission to sell the 39 condominiums to non-Bermudians, which is Mr. Smith's main concern.

He pointed out a moratorium on selling condominiums to non-Bermudians is currently in place and there was a glut on the market with dozens of already-built condominiums unsold.

Mr. Smith said he objected to the Palace Suites being built so close to Elbow Beach and the residents he had canvassed were concerned about the environmental impact of the planned additions.

But he said he was very encouraged the hotel's owners wanted to invest in the property considering the weak economy.

The winner of the August 17 primary will replace Speaker of the House the Hon.

David Wilkinson as the Hon. Harry Soares' running mate.

Mr. Soares, the former Youth and Sports Minister, said last night he could not say whether he backed the hotel's plans because he had not personally seen them.

The plans have already been opposed by the National Trust and the general managers of two nearby cottage colonies.