Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield employed “disgraceful” tactics in allowing soil imports for Bermuda’s flagship cricket venue, according to Opposition critics.

It is anticipated that regulatory changes made by the Minister will improve the sub-standard pitch at the National Sports Centre to a level where international games can be hosted once more. The step has long been anticipated by the Bermuda Cricket Board, with chief executive Neil Speight saying earlier this year it would be “music to the ears” of his organisation.

However, the United Bermuda Party has repeatedly highlighted concerns that importing soil could run the risk of introducing alien species and dangerous plant diseases to the Island. They have cited the example of the cedar blight that wiped out Bermuda’s national tree in the 1940s through an imported scale insect.

This weekend, Opposition MPs called for Ms Butterfield to resign amid allegations she pushed the new regulations through on Friday at the end of the season’s parliamentary session with no announcement or opportunity for debate.

The Minister tabled the changes through a process called negative resolution, meaning information was made available to MPs, but the topic was not listed for debate.

The Parliamentary process allows the Opposition 21 days to list the matter for debate if it has concerns. However, according to Grant Gibbons of the United Bermuda Party, the fact Ms Butterfield tabled the resolution on Friday — on the final evening of the final session of the House until November — means this cannot happen.

Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simons branded the move “disgraceful” and “unconscionable”.

Mr. Simons claimed a year ago that there was a Cabinet split over the issue, with Ms Butterfield opposing the change but then-Sports Minister Dale Butler and then-Deputy Premier Ewart Brown backing it.

He said on Friday: “She has not got the attention of her Cabinet colleagues and she cannot convince them to protect our environment... I know she’s committed to the environment, she had me most of the time, but today she lost me.”

Adding his voice to the criticism last night, Shadow Minister for Sport Jon Brunson accused the Minister of reversing her own position voiced a few months ago.

“That she did so without explanation or public notice should concern any Bermudian who wants the Government to be upfront in its decision-making,” he said.

“That the Minister did so in a manner that prevented debate in the legislature, and just minutes before it rose for the summer break showed a lack of fortitude in managing a controversial measure and disrespect to the public. Her disregard for the legislature was premeditated. We note that Ms Butterfield signed the amendments to import soil on June 21, meaning they could have been debated last Friday.”

Mr. Brunson claimed the wording of the amendments is loose, and MPs should have been able to scrutinise this to ensure greater control and accountability. Describing the venture as a “very dangerous exercise,” he added: “Soil is a particularly dangerous media. Nothing else contains more bacteria per unit volume than soil. That is why we have permanent embargoes on various foreign fresh food crops because of the pests that could accompany them.”

In addition, he said his party was not satisfied that local options to improve the cricket pitch have been properly investigated.

Debate over the problem pitch at the National Sports Centre in Devonshire has rumbled on since July 2004, when the Island hosted the Americas Championship. Batsmen from all the competing countries complained about how quickly the pitch deteriorated as well as problems with the uneven bounce. Later in the year, the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) pitch consultant Andy Atkinson condemned it as “more suitable for growing carrots on” and advised that it must be re-laid with top-quality soil from overseas.

According to Government, Bermuda Cricket Board officials, National Sports Centre Trustees chairman Gerald Bean and head groundsman Trevor Madeiros, the Island does not have local soil good enough to produce wickets of international class.

In May this year, head of development at the ICC Richard Done said it was “crucial” for Bermuda’s future One Day International status that it has the necessary facility available by next year when it is slated to host several Intercontinental Cup and One Day International matches.

In a statement that month, Sports Minister Randy Horton told this newspaper the regulatory amendments would be made soon after Parliament reconvened on May 4. “Certainly by next summer we hope to be in a position to host international cricket in Bermuda,” he said at the time.

Of concerns that such importation could bring damaging pests to the Island, Mr. Horton said: “Once we’re in a position to proceed, the soil we purchase will be treated at both ends to ensure there are no harmful environmental repercussions.”

Ms Butterfield said last night that she was not in a position to comment as she was about to board a plane. Attempts to elicit a response from her Permanent Secretary and the Department of Communications and Information had proved unsuccessful by press time.