Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield has had to don her flak jacket over the past year in the wake of some controversial decisions, particularly the delisting of the Grade One 'Queen of the East' – which led some to call for her resignation, and public anger over the SDO for Southlands.

At a press conference last week however, the Minister maintained her respect for the Island's natural spaces, saying: "We have a responsibility to care for the environment."

Ms Butterfield says the challenge for Bermuda is to balance its beauty with the demands of a modern consumer society and growing population. She said: "We must weigh the demands of a growing, sophisticated population which expects service in line with those found on continents, with the need to preserve the integrity of our small Island.

"Sometimes these competing objectives are very challenging. We must however attempt to find an acceptable solution so that if there is an adverse impact, the impact is minimised."

The Royal Gazette asked the Minister to comment on some of the decisions she has made and what she envisages for the future. Ms Butterfield e-mailed The Royal Gazette her responses:

What do you feel are the main challenges facing Bermuda in the future?

"The challenges are well known. Space is at a premium so the environment is constantly under pressure from the need to develop housing, office space, and to accommodate the increased demand for transportation, waste management and energy production."

How do you feel Government can meet these challenges?

Minister: "Head on! This is the Government that launched the Sustainable Development initiative. This is the Government that has made moves to increase public transport, to introduce four-stroke bikes which pollute far less than two-stroke bikes. However, Government alone cannot solve these challenges. The Bermuda public must also play their part in living more sustainable lives. The public need to recycle, conserve energy, take public transport, carpool and dispose of their waste properly. The Government will try and encourage people to embrace environmental stewardship – to understand that our own health is linked directly to environmental health."

How much open space have we lost to development in the last four years and how much has been reclaimed, such as for public parks?

"Government committed substantial funds for the successful Buy Back Bermuda campaign that purchased a large parcel of land in Somerset. Additionally, the Ministry has requested a sizeable increase in the Budget for 2008 for the purchase and restoration of open space in Bermuda. It is also important to focus not so much on open space lost, but how much open space is being protected.

"The Ministry's Community Areas Programme has contributed to an increase in recreational space in highly developed neighbourhoods. The Ministry is also working on amending the Parks Act to include an additional 54 acres as nature reserves, 102 acres as parks and 435 acres as Marine Park."

Do you agree that Government contradicted its pledge to protect open spaces when it outlined plans to build a hospital in the Botanical Gardens?

"No. People fail to realise that although it was proposed that a new hospital could be built in the Botanical Gardens, the land that was formerly occupied by the hospital (King Edward VII Memorial Hospital) would have been turned into a new area of the Gardens, resulting in a net gain in size for the Gardens."

Do you feel that the SDO for Southlands was perhaps misguided now that Government is considering the brownfield site Morgan's Point as a location for the Jumeirah Southlands resort?

"Absolutely not! The Cabinet was in agreement in issuing the SDO for Southlands."

Do you feel that Government misjudged the strength of feeling of the people re: Southlands and the Botanical Gardens?

Minister: "No. There were many people in support of these decisions. However, there was also a very vocal minority that felt their view was the only view."

These two issues galvanized public opinion in Bermuda and, it can be argued, made many people more environmentally-aware. Do you feel that Government is now more aware of environmental issues and public feeling in 2007?

"Government has always been aware of environmental issues – and we certainly listen to the public's opinions and views. We are certainly encouraged to see our young people in the public and private school systems becoming aware and involved in environmental issues."

How will the Department of the Environment ensure it fulfills its protective role when faced with pressure for more hotel development from tourism?

"As has often been said – sustainable development doesn't mean no to development. All new hotels proposed for Bermuda are put through more scrutiny than perhaps anywhere else in the world. It should also be noted that very few green sites are being proposed for hotel development. The Club Med property will be redeveloped, as will the old Golden Hind and the Sonesta property.

"This is what we are trying to encourage in Bermuda – the use of brown sites for redevelopment. However, if a property that is zoned for tourism is privately owned and a developer wants to develop the site (such as Southlands), Government will work closely with the developer to ensure minimal impact to the environment."

Please can you comment on the following claims by the UBP, that 'Government is five years late in producing an updated Bermuda Development Plan.'

"It is no secret that the Department of Planning has had some staffing issues in the last few years. This is part of a global problem where there simply aren't enough planners to fill all the positions. Despite these challenges, the Department has made excellent progress on the New Bermuda Plan which will be released in 2008."

'Government is allowing 'Government is allowing hotel and housing developments to proceed through Special Development Orders (SDOs) without following normal planning procedures and without adequate consultation.'

"This is entirely misleading. The public was consulted and given ample opportunity to voice their opinions – and many people took that opportunity. I personally reviewed every letter and submission that was sent to the Department of Planning that concerned any development that was the subject of an SDO. However, as I alluded to earlier, this Government is working hard to strike the right balance between conservation and development. All developers that have applied for an SDO have complied with rigorous application requirements that ensure Government makes a fully-informed decision on these matters."

Government has not done enough to develop, in conjunction with Belco, 'a long-term strategy for the development and deployment of alternate energy sources'.

"Firstly, Belco is a public company that trades on the Bermuda Stock Exchange. The Government cannot dictate how Belco runs its business. What we can do, and what this Government has done and will continue to do, is work hand-in-hand with Belco to explore all possible options for energy requirements in Bermuda going forward. Government is committed to working with Belco to address concerns and to plan for Bermuda's long-term energy needs."

What is being done in terms of duty/tax cuts to encourage solar panels/wind turbines/electric cars and scooters, and other renewable energy sources?

Minister: "Nothing needs to be done! Solar panels, wind turbines and electric cars and scooters are already duty free."

In terms of alternative energy, how do you equate the delisting of the Grade One 'Queen of the East' (leaving it open to possible demolition/development) with the subsequent rejection of a micro-wind turbine on a Grade Two-listed house in Harbour Road, Warwick, due to the visual impact it would have had on the building?

"This is comparing apples and oranges. The two applications are entirely different and making a comparison would not make sense. This Government supports efforts to conserve Bermuda's historical and cultural treasures, including listed houses. We also support alternative energy initiatives and the Department of Planning has approved applications for micro-wind generators in Bermuda."

What is your personal vision for the future of Bermuda's environment?

"Environmental awareness and responsibility is becoming one of the most important issues the world faces. No one denies global warming is real and taking place. The future of Bermuda's environment is going to depend on a delicate balance – a balance between conservation and development. We must keep the economy growing at a measured pace while also protecting the environment from the pressures of development. We must also encourage the public in Bermuda to become stewards of the environment."

Are there any particular policies/initiatives you would like to implement?

"The New Bermuda Plan will be launched in 2008 and there will also be a review of the Development and Planning Act. We will also continue our efforts to promote farming as a career for Bermudians, through apprenticeships. The Government will amend the Water Resources Act 1975 to provide for greater control over the discharge of substances into Bermuda's water resources, by strengthening and clarifying the provisions which relate to the prevention and remediation of pollution."