Is anybody concerned that the people of Bermuda have had no say in the largest land development project since the airport construction in the Second World War? What I'm talking about here is the development of Morgan's Point. The PLP Government last week committed the island to the total redevelopment of its 250 acres, arguably the last great resort development opportunity in Bermuda, without any public consultation.

That same week, people learned through The Royal Gazette that Government had approved preliminary designs for an 18-hole golf course on the site. How we backed our way into what is now billed as a "$2 billion development" is a national disgrace if you believe Bermuda should take care to give itself the best possible options for the future. The United Bermuda Party long called for a Southlands national park and we supported the protests that led to that result. But that great success should never have been allowed to affect the potential of Morgan's Point.

Unfortunately, the Morgan's Point situation will stand as a classic example of bad public planning, wherein Premier Brown's mishandling of Southlands shut down possibilities at Morgan's Point.

This haphazard approach to a national development challenge is typical of the PLP Government's handling of the country's affairs, and it stands as a major contrast to the United Bermuda Party's approach to Morgan's Point in the 1990s.

At that time, the UBP Government made public consultation the backbone of its planning for this prime piece of real estate, which it described as the "crown jewel" of the former military properties.

Working meetings were held in which members of the public helped put together a land-use strategy to "provide new opportunities for Bermudian businesses, individuals and community needs, economic growth to create jobs, generate foreign earnings and produce revenue to Government… in ways that enhance the quality of life".

Dozens of stakeholders, from financial institutions to community groups, also participated in developing the strategy. The eventual "Broad Use Plan" for the former bases was distributed through The Royal Gazette. Once approved by the Legislature, the Government invited would-be developers through an open tender to draft plans for Morgan's Point. Five groups, all combining local and overseas members, put forward proposals. Government, through the Bermuda Land Development Company, selected one and introduced it to the public before soliciting feedback at more public meetings.

The point I want to make here is twofold:

1) In a Government project of any size, particularly one as rare and big as Morgan's Point, public input is essential. Why shouldn't people be consulted about the use of precious island resources? After all, Morgan's Point is public land. But this has not been the case at Morgan's Point.

2) The failure to tender Morgan's Point has deprived Bermuda of a competitive process that could have brought forward other visions and plans for the property. Instead, the developers, whose original plans and vision had nothing to do with Morgan's Point, were compelled to put together a scheme for the whole site — a massively different project from the hotel development they wanted to build at Southlands.

That's not their fault. They landed at Morgan's Point through no fault of their own and we in the United Bermuda Party will do whatever we can to help them build the best possible resort. But thanks to the PLP's mistakes at Southlands, the current arrangement is like a shotgun wedding, and all Bermuda should be asking if we've done the right thing. Here's one concrete example where PLP Government bungling has sold Bermuda short at Morgan's Point.

The development group selected by the United Bermuda Party Government was prepared to commit up to $12 million to clean the environment at Morgan's Point, provided the Government cap its liability for environmental costs at that figure. That commitment fell away when the new PLP Government caused the developers to walk away in 1999. Now, it looks certain the Government will have to use taxpayers' money to pay for the whole clean-up, now bound to cost millions more than a decade ago. Bermuda needs to be at the top of its game when it comes to planning the future.

One way to make sure that happens is to keep the people involved.

Cole Simons is the United Bermuda Party –Shadow Environment Minister