Rampant growth and an influx of foreigners have helped cause a breakdown in society claims Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson.

In a controversial interview on Page 2, the Minister said Bermudians have had their culture damaged by an upsurge in immigration which he said had gone to far.

He said: "It's my personal view that we imported more than we needed to have done. The more people you have, the more waste you have. You use more resources, you change the culture of the community you are living in, you put pressure on the streets, you create the drug problem.'' And the Minister says it's time to take stock and make sure the drive for profit doesn't destroy people's quality of life.

He said: "It's about sustainable development -- some people think this means you simply keep going on. We can't overpopulate the Island but there is also a recognition in Bermuda that we need tourists.

"The process of sustainable development is about balancing economic development, community development and ecological development.

He said: "We don't have full employment -- not because the jobs don't exist but because we have said to a group of people `you don't belong here'. People don't feel part of Bermuda -- the hangers on, the beggars and the drug users.

"If you overload the system it breaks down. What is wrong with our society that people have to work overtime? People laboured for years to get an eight-hour work day and now this doesn't provide enough for them to live on.'' IMMIGRATION IMM