some Senators "just couldn't trust'' Government promises to protect Catchment Hill, the unspoiled Tucker's Town site that became the focal point of recent debate over the plan.

Last Friday, Government proposed a review of Catchment Hill's zoning under the plan, which imposes development zonings on all property, in exchange for getting it passed by the House of Assembly. The plan was approved 20 to 16.

Yesterday, the vote was 8 to 3 in favour of the plan, with each of the Progressive Labour Party Senators -- Sen. Milton Scott, Sen. Terry Lister and Sen. Neletha Butterfield -- voting against. As in the House of Assembly, the PLP said it "could not support'' the plan as originally drafted.

Chief among the dissenters was Sen. Scott , the Senate Opposition Leader.

"The plan's major flaw is that it allows for the development of Catchment Hill,'' he said, adding that he was unimpressed with Government's assurances that the site would likely remain untouched.

Instead, he said, Government should "give this property back to the people of Bermuda and designate it a national park.

"If there is to be any development in the area, it should be to ensure that everyone has access.'' While he did not go as far as calling for a national park, Sen. Alf Oughton (Ind.) also expressed skepticism over Government's sincerity in promising a review.

"I too wonder if Government's statement that it's going to revisit this (issue) is enough,'' he said. "If Government wants to indicate that it has the interests of the community at heart, this is an opportune chance.'' Sen. Butterfield was more blunt in her assessment of public sentiment over Catchment Hill.

"Many people,'' she said, "are sending out an SOS -- Save our Open Spaces.'' According to Environment Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons , however, the public has had a great deal of input in the plan, especially with regard to Catchment Hill.

"There was greater public involvement in this plan than in any other,'' Sen.

Simons said. "In fact, the former (Environment) Minister wrote to every household informing them of the objections process.'' Of the 1,188 objections registered, he said, 843 (or 71 percent) were "resolved,'' with 259 "actually heard before the objections tribunal.'' Before giving his own approval to the plan, Sen. Gary Pitman (UBP) urged the public to have faith in the process on which Government has decided.

"There must be a balance between property owners and environmentalists,'' he said. "I see no other reasonable alternative but to approve the 1992 Bermuda Plan and have the Minister make a submission for amendment.'' Sen. Lawrence Scott (UBP) concurred with Sen. Pitman.

"I think it would be wrong for us to say that because we have concerns about Catchment Hill, which can be addressed, we will prevent any future development with the stroke of a pen.

"We (as individuals) can't have our way in everything. These rules and regulations are there to make it fair for us all.'' But Sen. Lister insisted he could not support a plan that left so many questions unanswered.

"The Minister,'' he said, "is asking us (to say): `Let's get on with it and if there's anything wrong we'll fix it later'. That's really not good enough.

"I think we should be requiring that Government give us in writing what it is going to do with Catchment Hill before we approve this bill. It can't give us a guarantee today that, when Bermuda Properties (Ltd.) come forward (with a development proposal), the Development Applications Board will turn them down -- that precludes a fair hearing.

"(Consequently) we have to question Government's commitment to open spaces and the environment.'' As did Sens. Lister and Milton Scott before her, Sen. Norma Astwood (Ind.) linked the issue of Catchment Hill to the manner in which it and other land was appropriated from Tucker's Town blacks to build the Marriott Hotel in 1920.

"In a week's time, we will debate the White Paper on Racism,'' she said.

Surely we can see how Catchment Hill and the loss of it tie into that.

"Irrespective of what Government does, this issue will not go away. Whatever the decision is, it will not satisfy the descendants'' of those whose land was taken.

On the other hand, Sen. Yvette Swan (UBP) felt that people were focusing too much on Catchment Hill and not enough on the planning statement's other recommendations.

"It is interesting that in looking at the 1992 Bermuda Plan, we have all focused on one area of the Country,'' she said, adding that the planning statement made solid suggestions in such areas as resource management and the environment as it relates to road safety.

Sen. Grant Gibbons said that a family company that he was associated with owns a fraction of a percent of the Catchment Hill property.

"In Sen. Milton Scott's statement he said the land had been stolen from Bermudians of African descent, clearly the feelings and perceptions people have are important,'' Sen. Gibbons said.

"There are also white Bermudians who owned that land. Mr. Scott added that the land should not be developed but if it is it should be developed by previous owners.

"But the question is who are the original owners.'' Sen. Gibbons added that there was very little vegetation on Catchment Hill.

And it would be good for a quarry, which is what it was used for.

"How far back do you go, how far back do you look at compensation.'' He also said that a number of people were counting on the Base property.

"I would like to assure them that the Base properties will be carefully looked at to best help the people of Bermuda.'' Senate president the Hon. Albert Jackson said: "One can only fly over Bermuda and look down to see the amount of development that has taken place on the Island.

"There has been a call for the preservation of open space. This infringes on people who have acquired blocks of land at some time and some point.'' He added: "We cannot deal lightly with these matters. We have to do what is necessary to protect the beauty of our Island.'' In Sen. Gerald Simons' closing remarks he added that Sen. Butterfield spoke passionately about saving open spaces.

"Government remains committed to the importance of having open spaces. We have heard the PLP state that they did not intend to support the Bermuda Plan but they did not put on the table, a solution.''