Dear Sir,

The following is a letter hand-delivered to the Department of Planning objecting to the Southlands national park proposal:

I am writing to you as owner of Lost In The Triangle restaurant at 87 South Road in Warwick, formerly The Swizzle Inn.

I am aware of the planning application recently posted to highly develop the Southlands park with a proposed 120-seat restaurant in addition to 51 car parking spaces, 76 bike parking spaces as well as nine minibus/taxi parking bays.

I am a Bermudian entrepreneur and have invested more than $200,000 to renovate and open my restaurant that serves the local community, hotel, guesthouses and Airbnb tourists, as well as many cruise ship passengers who stop in to enjoy the best locally caught fish available. I work seven days a week and have put my heart and soul into developing this restaurant.

The area is well served by restaurants, with the new Azura poolside and indoor dining restaurant, Brenda's Café, Simple Restaurant and Takeout in Rubis South Shore and the new restaurant that has been built, but not yet operational in the now government-owned condos across the street from LITT — formerly The Hilton Bermudiana Beach Club. I have been approached several times recently by government departments to assist in opening this restaurant and have declined.

The proposed 120-seat restaurant in Southlands is excessive, not in keeping with the national park and simply not needed. It would essentially be the Government competing with private Bermudian businesses, as it will be built on government land, harm our businesses and potentially force us to close.

The entire development, which is building on and using virtually all of the parkland to the south of South Road, appears to be purpose-built for the cruise ship industry by the sheer size and number of minibus/taxi/bike parking areas. This park is enjoyed by many of my customers who enjoy quiet walks on the beach with family members before coming by to eat in my establishment. This would be destroyed if this proposal is allowed to proceed.

I strenuously object to this government proposal as a Bermudian businessman and entrepreneur.

DELVIN BEAN

Southampton

Owner

Lost In The Triangle Restaurant