plans for development at the West End site, it emerged yesterday. Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell told the House of Assembly during the Tourism Budget debate that the WEST*GROUP, the investors behind the project to develop the former Naval Annex, did not want low-cost housing at the site. "I will tell you from a reliable source, if the issue of low-cost housing is forced on those people, they will walk away.'' Mr. Dodwell recognised that there was a subtle line between affordable housing and low-cost housing but stressed that the latter would have no place on a development like the sort planned for Morgan's Point and was, in fact, a "deal-wrecker''.

Morgan's Point project in jeopardy -- Dodwell Plans for the site include a marina, Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and 200-room cottage colony.

"If they do walk,'' he continued, "I think that every other investor who comes in here and is told to put low-cost housing on that base will also walk.'' Mr. Dodwell's revelations came after Tourism Minister David Allen's announcement that more was happening in the area of hotel investment on the Island then had happened in the past 40 years.

Camberley Hotel Company's plans for the former Club Med hotel in the East end were advancing, noted Mr. Allen.

"We are putting the last piece of the financial puzzle into place. My hope is that the ground will be broken in the near future. It is important to have the property up and running as soon as possible.'' But Mr. Dodwell questioned what had happened to the company's option to lease agreement which expired in January. If it had not been renewed, he asked, what had happened to the investment behind the project? Mr. Allen said Government wanted the Belmont and Elbow Beach projects up and running quickly as well because Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort was set to close for some 18 months while extensive work took place there.

"We will need to replace the jobs lost there and the hotel beds.'' Mr. Allen said he expected work at the Belmont property to begin this year and noted that it would also cater to golfers. Meanwhile, Elbow Beach would also be putting a spa on its Paget site which should serve to attract more business.

But Mr. Dodwell disclosed that Bermuda Properties Limited were still in negotiations with a potential investor for their plans to re-develop Marriott's Castle Harbour Hotel and build new accommodation units at the site.

And the groups behind the Belmont project, he continued, were reportedly still waiting for Government to make a final commitment to their plan for the Warwick property.

Also included among new development projects for the Island are the recently-approved eco-tourism resort at Daniel's Head which is scheduled to be up and running by next spring and the recent development of the Palm Reef Hotel which will see condominiums and hotel suites built at the Harbour Road site.

A business suite hotel is also slated for Par-La-Ville car park in a partnership effort by Dawnay Day Hotels and TG international Investments and Canadian Pacific Hotels have plans to invest in the Princess Hotels in Hamilton and Southampton.