The Mayor of St. George?s and Shadow Minister of Tourism are urging Government to come to a decision concerning the future development of the former Club Med Hotel in St. George?s.

Mayor, E. Michael Jones and Senator Kim Swan said future development of St. George?s businesses and infrastructure depended on the completion of the hotel which locals refer to as ?the hotel on the hill?.

Sen. Swan said with the year almost at an end the future development of that property became critical to the rejuvenation needed for the business community within the Town of St. George?s.

?My concern is that the over reliance which is now placed on cruise ship visitors would be further exaggerated if the efforts to redevelop this prime property has not materialised,? he said.

Sen. Swan said the absence of a hotel development in the immediate future for St. George?s will further precipitate plans to grow the cruise ship industry with long-term consequences for the infrastructure ? cruise ships are also major competitors to local merchants while in port.

?And, the object is for their merchants on board the ship, to derive as great a share of the potential income onboard the ship during each sailing.?

?Any real enhancement to the infrastructure of St. George?s must be in concert with real plans to redevelop the former Club Med property,? he said.

This argument is backed by Mr. Jones who said all decisions concerning cruise ships and waterfront developments depended on the future hotel development.

He said transport as well as the retail industry had to change accordingly, not to mention future upgrades of the current sewage system in St. George?s and urged Government to reach some decision.

Three years ago the St. George?s Renaissance Consortium, led by Canadian-based group Quorum, proposed to create a European style cultural village that will integrate a new 126-roomed hotel and 110 low-rise residential units with a public square that will initially embrace existing theatre features.

Future, larger stand-alone theatre facilities would also be developed as well as the surrounding St. George?s Golf Club.

Prestigious hotel chain, Four Seasons, which owns some of the most upscale hotels in the world, are set to manage the property.

It is rumoured that the length of the lease is what?s holding things up ? something which has to be decided by the current landlord, the Ministry of Works and Engineering.

The CEO and Managing Partner of Quorum, Wanda Dorosz earlier this months said she remained optimistic that some kind of agreement could be reached soon as the date for demolition of the former Club Med hotel had come and gone.

Ms Dorosz added that the Minister of Works and Engineering, Lt. Col. David Burch had asked for time to ?get up to speed? on the proposed development.

Mr. Jones said that he was led to believe that Quorum and the Government were moving ahead, but feared it would be disastrous for St. George?s if they did not.

?We?re hoping in the next few weeks to hear something positive from Government,? he said, adding that as arrangements needed to be made for the removal of rubble following demolition.

?They would have to truck it down our main street and we can?t have that happening in the middle of July,? he said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Swan is also calling for Government to consider increasing the length of time yachts are allowed to stay in Bermuda ? and ultimately St. George?s.

Yachts are currently only allowed to stay for 21 days. After that they have to apply for special permission.

Mr. Jones said he believed Government was looking into this possibility, but was not sure how long it would take before a decision was reached.

Sen. Swan said this trade was vital to seaports like St. George?s in bringing bring high end owners to the Island?s shores, as well as that of their crew.