Independent candidate and environmentalist Stuart Hayward has set up a steering committee to discuss how Bermuda can develop without further damaging the environment.

Mr. Hayward, who is standing in Pembroke West Central in tomorrow's election, said that the national dialogue would be part of his movement towards a "sustainable society" for Bermuda.

At a Press conference yesterday Mr. Hayward said Bermuda's housing woes required more than a quick fix. "Attempting to solve a housing problem creates or adds to a whole range of other problems," he said.

"And with Bermuda's limited land space, the collection of problems decreases the quality of life for all of us. Unless we use integrated thinking, we often create more problems than we solve. For this reason, I am proposing a national dialogue on Bermuda's carrying capacity - how many people, cars, trucks, houses, job-sites etc. can fit into Bermuda and still sustain a desirable quality of life."

Mr. Hayward said he had met with key figures from local and international business, the scientific community, academia and community activists to form the steering committee to lead the dialogue.

Mr. Hayward said that he felt his chances for a win tomorrow were good.

"The population has seen two governments and there is a sense that there is not too much different between the two," said Mr. Hayward, adding that "the time is right" for an independent representative.

Mr. Hayward also commented on the recent controversy over the Government's criticism of the local Press saying: "This doesn't need to happen. The Press is the messenger."

He added that he did not want to see the Island transformed into a dictatorship, "where there isn't a free press".

"There shouldn't be an alliance (between the government and the Press), but more collaboration," he said.

Mr. Hayward also issued an invitation to his Pembroke constituents for a meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at West Pembroke School.