Foreign soil will not be imported into Bermuda for the Island’s flagship cricket venue until MPs have had a chance to debate new regulations in the autumn, the Senate heard yesterday.

Attorney General Philip Perinchief told Senators that Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield “will be content to entertain a debate on the substance of the regulations” when the House of Assembly reconvenes in November. “No soil will be imported into Bermuda pending the completion of the legislative process,” he said.

Critics berated Ms Butterfield earlier this month after she tabled the new regulations in the House to allow the sub-standard pitch at the National Sports Centre to be improved to a level where international games can be hosted.

The Opposition, environmentalists and farmers claim importing soil could run the risk of introducing alien species and dangerous plant diseases to the Island.

But the poor quality of the square at the National Sports Centre means Bermuda has not played an official One Day International on home soil since qualifying for the World Cup in 2005 and could lose ODI status prematurely if it is not in a position to play home games by next summer.

Ms Butterfield has said that fear over imported soil has been overblown and has insisted that everything will be done to minimise the risk of foreign pests destroying crops across the Island.

Mr. Perinchief said yesterday that because the Agriculture (Control of Plant and Pest) Amendment Regulations 2007 were tabled in the House of Assembly on the last day of the parliamentary session, giving the Opposition no opportunity to ask for a debate, the Government was prepared to have that debate in November.

Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simons said: “It is important to remember that the Government’s approval for the Government to import soil remains in place — a plan that is recognised as highly dangerous by experts world-wide. The only ray of light in the situation is that the Government has bowed to the serious concerns expressed by people across the island. We must remain vigilant on this issue because it represents a threat to the Island’s ecosystem and, quite frankly, I don’t trust this Government to make the right decision regardless of the arguments and information put before them.

“It will be up to all concerned citizens to make common sense prevail in this matter.”

The Environment Ministry did not respond to a request for comment last night. No one from Bermuda Cricket Board could be contacted.