Detailed maps showing the land in St. George's which is to be redeveloped into a five-star resort will be put on public display in the town, Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess pledged last night.

He agreed to requests from Opposition MPs in the House of Assembly to give residents the chance to view drawings showing exactly where the proposed Park Hyatt 100-bed hotel and other facilities will be built.

Opposition Chief Whip John Barritt said people needed to be able to check to see if they might have a claim on the land. The new resort will cover more than 50 hectares — or almost 125 acres — in St. George's.

Yesterday's special House session on the Park Hyatt (St. George's) Resort Act 2008 heard that the resort — due to open on 2012 — will feature a hotel, 150 condominium units, fractional units, a golf course, staff housing and an infrastructure including a sewage treatment plant and water desalination plant.

Premier Ewart Brown said the development would enhance tourism and be a great window of employment opportunity for Bermudians.

Former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith, MP for St. George's North, said: "This is not a perfect bill but it's certainly the best thing that we have seen happen to St. George's for an extremely long time."

She said she was personally excited at the offer made by the developers to have St. George's sewage — which is currently untreated — treated in the hotel's system.

Shadow Education Minister Grant Gibbons questioned whether the Island was getting the best deal from the developer. He cited the $250,000 rent the developer will pay and suggested they could stand to make a profit as high as $400 million. "That's a pretty good return," he said. "We could drive a slightly harder deal."

Mr. Burgess said developers would be encouraged to use as many Bermudians as possible to build the hotel.

Opposition Chief Whip John Barritt pointed out that the Park Hyatt resort was "not a sure thing". "There is still a lot of work to be done," he said. "In the real world, deals are made and they shift all the time."

Deputy Opposition Leader Cole Simons said there was no planning approval in place for the project yet and much could change.

"We could be debating these plans today but these plans could evolve into something else tomorrow." He questioned why Park Hyatt did not mention the development on its website.

Junior Minister Michael Scott described the new law as a "piece of artistry in its intent and design" and said the prospects for the site were sound.

Shadow Attorney General Mark Pettingill said he supported the bill, adding: "I have no objections or criticism, rather valid concerns that should be embraced by Government.

"I ask that since this project will be absorbing over 30 per cent of the parish of St. George's that you proceed cautiously with it."

Government Chief Whip Glenn Blakeney suggested the Opposition should have been thanking the Government for drafting the legislation and accused them of nitpicking over the details.

Shadow Works and Engineering Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin replied: "As the Opposition we are required to have a level of due diligence and scrutiny.

"At the meeting last Wednesday in St. George's, we listened to the concerns of the people of St. George's and these are the questions we have come here with today." She said she and her colleagues had no ulterior motive, just questions.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin reminded MPs of other hotels which failed and said caution was needed in case this initiative did not come to fruition.

Deputy Premier Paula Cox said the Park Hyatt would be for Bermuda, tourism and businesses. Referring to the rebuilding of tourism, she said: "It is not healthy to have your economy reliant solely on one leg and we must put Bermuda first."