Despite a ZBM news report that Southlands will be turned into a national park, none of the developers of the property nor Government could substantiate the claim.

On last evening's 7 o'clock news, journalist Gary Moreno reported that the much disputed Southlands property is to be turned into a national park named after civil rights campaigner Roosevelt Brown.

There has been much public resistance to development on the pristine South Shore Road property since Southlands Ltd, a group of investors made up of Brian Duperreault, Craig Christensen and Nelson Hunt proposed to build a luxury hotel on the historic site.

TheRoyal Gazette last night contacted Craig Christensen of Southlands Ltd. who claimed to have no knowledge of the move.

"I can't confirm that," said Mr. Christensen. "I have not heard anything of that nature."

And Junior Tourism Minister Marc Bean claimed that the information in ZBM's report was nothing more than a "rumour".

A campaign led by environmental group BEST to prevent the development led Southlands Ltd. to agree to exchange the property for 80 acres of Government-owned property at Morgan's Point, Southampton in 2008.

The deal has yet to be completed and the two sides have been publicly arguing recently. The three Southlands directors said on March 11 that they would have "no alternative" but to revert to their original plan if talks fell through.