Development Applications Board, stamped by the Minister of the Environment and his decision winds up before the Privy Council in London.

The Development Applications Board refuses the plans for a vastly rich non-Bermudian's toy, the Underwater Exploration Institute on East Broadway, basically because the DAB considered the building wrong for the area. The Minister of the Environment, a former President of the National Trust which was a major objector to the site, goes away, and an acting Minister, Transport's the Hon. Maxwell Burgess, rubber stamps the application. Many angry people doubt that he fully considered the ramifications of what he was approving.

A couple are repeatedly refused DAB permission to build a large house on the foreshore at the old Darrell's Slip in Warwick. Many Bermudians are content because they believe building on the foreshore is not allowed. Again, the Minister of the Environment, who has represented Warwick East in Parliament, goes away and Finance's the Hon. David Saul acts as Minister and stamps the visually outrageous plans. This time the whole thing is alarming because one of the owners has served the United Bermuda Party in Warwick East.

The owners of Bermuda Properties, which owns the largest piece of Tucker's Town open space, apply to develop Catchment Hill. They want to build houses for sale to non-Bermudians and make huge profits on Bermuda's land. There is public alarm, debate and objection. The plan is set aside.....for now. The same people, supported by Marriott which operates the Castle Harbour, then apply for a huge development of town houses and lavish homes around the hotel.

The claim is that it will push flagging tourism, but many people see that as an excuse to get development permission. In a rush which leaves everyone confused, the massive scheme is announced, land zoning is changed at the stroke of a pen to allow development, and the scheme is approved..... a "done deal'' before anyone can catch their breath.

We believe the speed was intended to stifle objection. But much worse than that, the Minister of the Environment, Sen. Gerald Simons, who now sits in the Senate at the Premier's pleasure, bypassed normal procedures and used special powers to grant permission thus ignoring the Developmemt Applications Board.

The powers which are so often being used to overrule or bypass the DAB are basically against natural justice. They are not there at the Minister's pleasure but are intended to be emergency powers. They are not intended to be political powers used to please supporters of the politicians or to grant multi-millionaires their whims. The powers are intended to help Bermuda in genuine emergencies like the need to get rebuilding done in a hurry after a natural disaster. These emergency powers are now being abused at will.

The public must wonder why Bermuda has a DAB which is an objective committee designed to carefully consider development in terms of both the environment and the "look'' of Bermuda if it is to be overruled for convenience sake and by acting ministers.

We think this outrageous Government behaviour has to be examined. To that end, the members of the DAB should submit their resignations as a group. The current developments should be put on hold. There should be public consideration of the planning machinery with a view toward removing the appeal power from the Minister and giving it to an independent tribunal.