Sacked Cabinet Minister Arthur Hodgson has told how one of his saddest moments in Government was signing over the new site for Berkeley Institute.

The former Environment Minister said he sometimes found the contradictions of Government frustrating, especially where sustainable development was concerned.

And, in his mind, one of the most prominent examples of that was the proposal to build a state-of-the-art school on open land.

He said: "As Environment Minister and being so behind the principle of sustainable development, I was sorry to have to sign a development order that was to destroy so much woodland, in what is already an overcrowded area of Bermuda.

"And, at the same time, destroying a listed building.

"It saddened me to have to do it -- but I signed it.'' Hodgson `ready to serve': Page 7 and 8 Hodgson opposed to Berkeley plans While Environment Minister, Mr. Hodgson gave a number of additional properties listed building status and said he had been keen to preserve as much of the real, old Bermuda as possible, while also maintaining open spaces and woodland.

He said the plans for Berkeley Institute were nothing to do with him, but as Environment Minister he was the one responsible for signing over the land.

He added: "The concept of sustainable development is something I have always been committed to.

"But Government policies are very often contradictory.'' And he said that sometimes he even found some of his colleagues failing to really appreciate or fully understand what sustainable development was all about.

Mr. Hodgson, who was ousted from the Cabinet after an unsuccessful challenge for the leadership in November, said he found the whole issue of education in Bermuda frustrating.

He said the PLP had inherited a system that needed much work if the youngsters of Bermuda were to benefit.

He added: "This has been a major frustration to me. The fact that a third of our children go to private schools, a number transfer from public schools, and the failure to introduce comprehensive schools is a source of frustration.

"We have inherited an education system which I think is all wrong. We need to give very careful analysis of it so we can get back to some of the principles outlined by the PLP from the beginning.

"I believe every parish should have a senior and primary school. The parents and children in that parish would have ownership of those schools, they would get more involved, and would take greater pride. The results of the pupils would be much better and it would improve community spirit.

"The system we have now sees children changing schools maybe three, or even four, times in 12 years. And they and their parents are not going to get so involved if the school is in a completely different area to where they live, and there is not such a community atmosphere.

"I strongly believe in having a number of smaller comprehensive schools.

"Education is the most important thing for any country. It is not only an investment for the country, but it is also a consumptive item. You can't mess with it.'' Work has already started on the new $60 million Berkeley Institute across the street from its present location in Berkeley Hill, Pembroke.

The school will open in 2003.