Dear Sir,

I read today’s piece (October 19, 2026) on Elbow Beach with interest and concern. Our government has once again given a great deal to a foreign developer with, as Craig Cannonier rightly points out, “a great amount of latitude”.

I am not against development of our tourism product, and I totally understand the new model required to make them successful, but I believe that we have missed another opportunity to help our housing problem. The article mentions luxury development, which is what you would expect on that site but no mention of housing for anyone else.

In the past few years, we have had The Loren (75 employees), St Regis (149), the Fairmont (soon to be circa 600) and now work is under way at Elbow Beach (assume another 75-100) all undertake massive projects.

Did the powers that be ever think to make it a condition for these companies to also build accommodation for staff?

Our housing shortage is chronic, with more than 400 families on a waiting list and probably many more who do not even bother to sign up. What have we built here in the past ten years? Almost exclusively we have allowed to be built, huge houses on Riddell’s Bay, Whitecrest Hill and other sites.

This is wonderful for the owners, developers, contractors and the Government, but is it what we really need? Does the planning department require an annex or apartment to be built or are they just massive dwellings for the uber-rich?

Bermuda is covered in concrete but many people don't have a suitable place to live. Is that progressive or labour-friendly?

ALAN GAMBLE

Warwick