Weblogs on the Island are criticising reported negotiations by Government into relocating the Jumeirah Southlands resort as "it doesn't add up". Politics.bm criticised the "change of heart" as "an effort to salvage some votes" in the run-up to an election, while 21 Square also questioned the "confusing move".

Last night, Government still refused to comment on the issue. Responding to a third request by The Royal Gazette for confirmation it is discussing the possible relocation to Morgan's Point, the Premier's Press Secretary Glenn Jones said: "The Premier has no comment on this matter at this time."

Asked why the Premier would not comment, we received the same response. There was no comment either on the issues of who would pay for the clean-up of Morgan's Point if such a move was to take place. The peninsula was a US Naval Base until the mid-1990s and is so polluted with oil and jet fuel that a resultant clean-up will cost more than $30 million.

The Government also remained quiet on how much of the 260-acre brownfield peninsula would be given to the developers in exchange for Southlands' 37 acres of prime greenfield land. The question of whether the Southlands estate could be turned into a national park also remains unanswered.

The Premier is staying quiet on the issue despite telling this newspaper in October that he would welcome a Jumeirah-type development at Morgan's Point.

Dr. Brown, Minister of Tourism and Transport, said then: "I would like to see a signature resort there — sort of like Atlantis (the Bahamas resort) — where the hotel becomes the destination. Where the buzz gets around the world, like Dubai has its seven star hotel (the Burj Al Arab — also operated by Jumeirah)."

It was former Premier Alex Scott who revealed to the Island's media last week that Government was discussing a land swap with developers Southlands Ltd. and the Jumeirah Group. He said "two out of three" Southlands owners were enthusiastic and "other meetings have taken place with their principals overseas (Jumeirah Group) and with Government also."

On Sunday, Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simons called on the Premier to state his position on a relocation of the five-star resort. Mr. Simons said: "It is not clear if Mr. Scott is speaking for the Government. We therefore call on the Premier to clearly state his Government's position on Southlands, Morgan's Point and Jumeirah."

The UBP MP also asked: "Is the Government going to commit to cleaning up Morgan's Point as a condition of the switch?"

Yesterday, Bermuda's weblogs were asking the same questions. They suggested Government was considering the relocation of the 497-bed resort from the South Shore as a matter of political expediency. Politics.bm said "the sudden shift raises a lot of questions".

"The obvious implication here is that the results of the heavy pre-election canvassing that have been going on across the Island recently, but also in the key battle grounds in Warwick, revealed that the PLP are in danger of losing Warwick seats because of the blatant disregard they had for the public interest over this project.

"The Ministers — including she of the Environment (Neletha Butterfield) — always acted as the agents for the developers, abdicating their responsibility to represent the public. As one person said to me the other day, the general sentiment towards the PLP MPs in the Warwick constituencies has been 'stick it in your tunnel'... hence, the sudden change of heart."

The blog added: "So, in an effort to salvage some votes, we're now seeing the Government trying to do some sort of a swap with Southlands and Morgan's Point."

It said: "But the problems here are massive: I can't see the Southlands/Jumeirah developers paying to clean up the pollution, so the taxpayers will foot that one."

On the 21 Square blog, Denis Pitcher wrote: "Suddenly putting Southlands on hold is a confusing move by the Government and developers. Why the sudden consideration of a change in location? What are the benefits of Morgan's Point over Southlands?

"What will happen to Southlands itself? There are a great many unanswered questions.

"Morgan's Point? Doesn't the Government own Morgan's Point? Will it be sold for fair value? Who's going to handle the clean-up and who's going to own what?"

The blog criticised Mr. Scott's explanation of suggesting Morgan's Point to the developers in response to the concerns of his Warwick South constituents as "it doesn't add up".