People who abuse national parks will be given on-the-spot tickets under new legislation passed by MPs yesterday.

Environment Minister Glenn Blakeney told the House of Assembly that the Bermuda National Parks Amendment Act 2009 would ensure parks are policed and "provide an effective tool to defend our parks system".

The legislation updates the National Park Act 1986 and creates a host of new parks such as Clearwater Beach, as well as ten new marine parks, including Shelly Bay and John Smith's Bay.

"Parks constitute some of the most rare and endangered specimens," Mr. Blakeney told the House as he gave the act its second reading.

The Minister then listed Shelly Bay, Parsons Road playground and the Botanical Gardens as essential spots for families.

He said the existing law lacked the ability to dissuade people from anti-social behaviour such as vandalism and dumping rubbish.

PLP backbencher Dennis Lister said the new law would go a long way towards "curbing some of the activities and offences that we see in our national parks".

His colleague Walter Lister added: "Why would anyone in their right mind abuse open space in Bermuda when it's such a limited commodity?"

Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simons argued that the act did not go far enough because certain beaches were not covered, while he said there was no mention of parks such as Par-la-Ville Park and Victoria Park, saying these were left exposed to potential development.

Mr. Simons accused Mr. Blakeney of being asleep at the wheel while a pier nearly a mile long was built at Dockyard without planning permission.

He also attacked Mr. Blakeney for repeating Cabinet's stance that "sustainable development is responsible development, not no development".

Mr. Simons said: "I would ask the Minister to say under his watch there's a new day and I will take responsibility for the environment and be a champion for the environment in Cabinet."

He said Government needed to ensure that developers building new hotels with beaches in Bermuda were "held to a high standard that will basically improve our national resources and not compromise it".

"If we are to remain one of the most pristine, one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, then we have to manage it and be aggressive about protecting it."

Environment Minister El James said the legislation brought all of Bermuda's islands into the national parks system. "These islands are going to be there for my grandchildren to enjoy," he said, adding that everyone had a role to play in preserving Bermuda's beauty.

The Opposition asked for an amendment to the bill to include detailed definitions of the terms amenity park, marine park, nature reserve and recreational park.

Mr. Blakeney said the definitions were not needed in the law as they'd be included in forthcoming regulations and the Opposition motion was quashed.