Cabinet has approved a Special Development Order for Southlands but Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield has not yet signed it.

However, the Minister showed she was on the verge of rubber-stamping the document by singing the praises of the controversial Jumeirah hotel scheme in a television broadcast last night.

Describing the 37-acre South Shore luxury resort as a "facility that we will all be truly proud of", Ms Butterfield said the show was intended to highlight its importance to the future of tourism in Bermuda. The programme also featured endorsements of the project from fellow Cabinet members Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown, Works and Engineering Minister Dennis Lister and Labour and Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess.

Environmental campaigners later hit out at the broadcast, saying it did not ease their anger that the scheme will destroy one of the Island's last remaining areas of open space.

Filmed sitting on a bench at Southlands, Ms Butterfield opened the programme by stating: "After months of consultation and negotiation, a Special Development Order has been drafted which will provide planning permission to develop a resort and residential complex here at the Southlands property in Warwick.

"The SDO was recently approved and supported by the full Cabinet but I have not yet signed the order, as I wanted to have the opportunity to address the public to explain what a Special Development Order is, and why it is required for this development to proceed."

Rumours have been circulating for some time that Cabinet had approved the SDO, which would speed track construction and forgo any comprehensive environmental review, but no confirmation was offered until last night's broadcast.

Noting the opposition to the move, the Minister continued: "I have to tell you that this has not been an easy process of decision for me. I have read the objections that were submitted. I have heard the voices of environmentalists and I share their love of Bermuda's open spaces."

But she added: "As a member of the Cabinet, I have another responsibility to balance the need for conservation with the need for development."

She stressed that planning permission was subject to conditions, with measures being taken to mitigate adverse environmental factors including the habitats of animals, impact of construction traffic on neighbours and transportation of employees brought into Bermuda during construction.

Taking his turn in front of the camera, Dr. Brown said his Ministry was committed to returning the tourism industry to its glory days of 25 years ago.

"The Southlands project would be the centrepiece of a nationwide tourism revitalisation project," said the Premier.

He pointed to Jumeirah's global reputation and said it was 35 years since Bermuda's last new hotel was built.

Mr. Lister made assurances over the hotel's underpasses, while Mr. Burgess, who formerly worked in the hotel industry, said he believed the project would have numerous benefits for the Island, including job and training opportunities for Bermudians.

Concluding the broadcast, Ms Butterfield said: "This new hotel will show that we have balanced conservation with the future development needs of our tourism product. The Government truly believes that we have made the right decision and that this will be a new facility that we will all be truly proud of."

More than 3,200 people have signed a petition by Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) to "Save the South Shore".

A statement from the group released late last night said members were "outraged" at the approval of the SDO.

"The draft SDO was soundly discredited by planning, architectural and environmental experts," said the statement. "In addition, in the short period of time that was allowed for objection, thousands of Island residents signed a petition against the SDO and hundreds marched in protest and sent letters of objection to both Minister Butterfield and Premier Brown.

"What has followed is inexcusable. To the best of our knowledge, prior to today's broadcast, neither the Minister, nor any member of her staff, have responded to those objections, which leaves us to believe that her request for feedback from her own advisors and the Bermuda electorate was not genuine."

The group vowed to continue its fight against the development and urged disgruntled residents to make their voices heard.

BEST member Jim Butterfield said: "My wife and I were horrified to see what they were going to do. We have so many derelict properties in Bermuda, like the Holiday Inn, yet we take a virgin piece of land and destroy it."

For more information about BEST, log on to www.best.org.bm