An activist group called Save South Shore met privately last night to deliberate on what appears to be forward moving developments in the world of special development orders (SDO) and tourism related construction.

Although media were not allowed inside, it is expected the proposed Southlands project was at the forefront of the discussion.

Earlier this week developers, the hotel operator, and the Premier met with the press and laid out a time frame for ground breaking and completion of the high-end resort on the south shore in Warwick.

The time frame was announced even though, as of Thursday, the public had not been notified of any approval from the Minister of the Environment on two Southlands requests for special development orders.

After the Save South Shore meeting last night one of the group?s leaders Stuart Hayward said: ?We discussed all the aspects of the various issues. We looked at what our possibilities are.

?By possibilities I mean what are likely things to occur and what we can do in response.?

The group plans to meet again, and regularly as developments unfold.

In the meantime, Mr. Hayward is pointing people to the Environmental Charter which he said Government signed in 2003.

In an e-mail Mr. Hayward wrote: ?If the Bermuda government issues an SDO for the Southlands Estate proposal or lifts the Section 34 protective covenant without undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment, then it violates clause 4 of the (Environmental Charter) pledge, which reads ? (The Government will) undertake environmental impact assessments before approving major projects and while developing our growth management strategy.?

The lifelong environmentalists also believes the Charter?s fifth clause is being violated.

It says: ?(The Government will) commit to open and consultative decision-making on developments and plans which may affect the environment; ensure that environmental impact assessments include consultation with stakeholders.?

Objectors were permitted to write letters of objection to the Department of Planning last month.

More than 100 people made the effort.

Mr. Hayward believes people were not given enough time.

In response to the letters of objection, the developers said their project had received the ?endorsement? of the Cabinet Committee on Special Hotel Development. has learned the members of that committee are: the Premier, the Minister of Finance, the Attorney General, the Minister of Works and Engineering, the Minister of Labour and Immigration, and the Minister of the Environment Neletha Butterfield.

It might appear a conflict of interest to have the Minister of Environment, who decides the fate of SDOs, sit on a board that has already endorsed the project ? especially since the goings-on of Cabinet and Cabinet sub-committees are not open to the public.

A Government spokesperson said yesterday Ms Butterfield ?absented herself? from the Committee?s discussions on Southlands and its subsequent endorsement

A more in-dept explanation on this issue came from Ministry Permanent Secretary Wayne Carey: ?... in every instance where matters are discussed which could affect the exercise of the Minister?s discretion or, where for the Minister to participate would create a conflict of interest, the Minister absents herself from that portion of the meeting.

?This practice is not unique and is adopted around the world both in Cabinet Committees and within meetings of the full Cabinet to ensure that no bias is occasioned nor appears to be done.

?With respect to the Southlands development, it, like every matter that comes before the Minister whether by way of an appeal or through an application for an SDO, will be considered on its own merits applying the law and the applicable advice of technical officers and where required, a proper exercise of the Minister?s discretion?.