Bermuda's new Director of Planning has pledged to rid the department of its reputation for inefficiency and address staff shortages.

Barbadian Trevor Leach was introduced to the media along with new E-Government Director Trevor Astwood at a press conference. He arrived on the Island just over four months ago and has been tasked with overseeing the "reinvention" of the Planning Department, according to Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield.

Since arriving he has begun the process of choosing a consultant to carry out a detailed review and revision of Planning laws and the processes used to review Planning applications.

Mr. Leach, a former deputy chief town planner in his home country, said: "It's a challenge but I think my background prepares me well for the challenge to the extent that Barbados has a similar planning system."

He said his first job would be addressing the public perception of the Planning Department as slow and inefficient and filling critical staff vacancies.

"Certainly that's the major one that I see needing to be addressed and I'll do that as a matter of urgency," he added.

Mr. Astwood, former director designate of the Department of E-Government, takes on his new role after a three-month secondment in Europe studying successful e-government initiatives.

He said improvements had recently been made to Government's website — www.gov.bm — and that users could access many services there.

He added that a recent study showed 38 percent of the Island's population had accessed the site during the last three months, with a 78 percent satisfaction rate.

Ms Butterfield said the appointments were part of exciting changes taking place at her Ministry. "We have many initiatives on the table, ranging from telecommunications reform to Planning reform," she said. "We have many challenges that must be faced in the short and also the long term.

"However, I am confident that with the leadership of directors such as Mr. Astwood and Mr. Leach we will be equal to the challenge."