six months.

Former Environment Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto yesterday told the House that the draft plan, which sets out guidelines for future development on the Island, was -- by law -- set to expire after 10 months or on January 2, next year.

But, she explained, the tribunal hearing objections to the proposed plan has not yet completed its task.

The tribunal, which had more than 1,000 objections before it, has dealt with the bulk of that, she said. But she noted that its members had other responsibilities and therefore could not work on it full time.

A total of 903 objections have been "resolved or heard by the tribunal or resolved and confirmed by the tribunal'', Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said.

And about 200 of the outstanding objections have been provisionally resolved.

Shadow Environment Minister Mr. Trevor Woolridge said the Opposition had no objections to the extension.

But he said he encouraged those with objections to follow them through "because we do want these individuals to have the opportunity to have their objections heard''.