Teaming up with the private sector is crucial if Bermuda wants to meet sustainable development challenges, Premier Alex Scott told an environmental conference in Antigua.

Mr. Scott stressed these challenges were a source of common ground between Bermuda, where a sustainable development blueprint is being drawn up, and its Caribbean neighbours.

?In every way, we experience the same environmental, social and economic challenges ? sustainable development. Therefore, we are all more alike than not,? the Premier said.

Dozens of delegates and exhibitors from across the region have attended the third Caribbean Environmental Forum and Exhibition to thrash out green ideas.

?We are impressed by the range of expertise available at this conference,? said Mr. Scott. ?We look forward to discussing the issues related to environment and development, sharing our experiences and learning from others.?

Items on the conference agenda include: energy security and sustainable development, water policies, waste management, and health and environmental impacts of next year?s cricket World Cup.

Mr. Scott said that although Bermuda could point to a tradition of environmental policies lending themselves to green thinking, in the past the Island had not done justice to the concept of sustainable development.

?The first 30 years of our modern political period was, for the most part, an era in which those who dominated the legislature were also the economic elites and captains of industry,? he told delegates. ?In short, a relatively small class of people had indeed captured, most, if not all of the wealth.?

He added: ?With the first change of government in 1998, economic and political power were in separate hands for the first time in Bermuda?s history ? setting the stage for a new, but delicate relationship between the overnment and industry.

?The structure of our economy had changed, too ? from a strong base in tourism to an economy in transition and slowly dominated by financial services and international business.

?A critical task, then as now, was for the Government to engage the private sector in a manner which fostered equitable development, social justice and opportunity for all.?