Save South Shore (SSS), the environmental group which has the Southlands project firmly in its cross hairs, has decided to change its name to Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (B.E.S.T.).

The group believes the new name better reflects the mission and message of its approximately 150 members.

It?s led by Stuart Hayward, an environmentalist and former member of the sustainable development roundtable.

In a press statement B.E.S.T. says it will: ?Ensure that the evaluation of the Southlands project complies with established Planning procedures.

?Ensure Southlands is appropriately evaluated in the context of other major projects. Ensure Southlands is appropriate by way of short and long-term tourism plans in light of critical economic, environmental and social issues.?

B.E.S.T. will also work to refute anything it considers misinformation put out by the Southlands developers.

The release says: ?It appears to us that the developers of the Southlands property have begun a public-relations campaign to sway public opinion in favour of the proposed luxury hotel.

?We believe that the public needs to be cautious in their acceptance of statements made by the developers, who have shown by the timing of their application, their selective presentation of information and their seeking to overturn zoning and protective covenants, that their priorities may not be in Bermuda?s best interest.?

It?s going to be an uphill battle for B.E.S.T. Premier Ewart Brown and former Premier Alex Scott, whose administration was widely considered to be strong in the area of sustainable development, have both endorsed the project. The Southlands development plan is a luxury hotel proposal on a 37-acre historic plot of land along a south shore cliff in Warwick.

B.E.S.T. promises to look beyond just Southlands and promote sustainable development ideas in the Government and in the private sector.

Plus it will work to minimise the use of special development orders, the press release said.