Senate rules will be suspended next week to make sure there's enough time for Senators to debate the new Bermuda Plan.

The decision — due to "time constraints" according to clerk Clark Somner — comes after Public Safety Minister David Burch decided there was no need for the Upper Chamber to sit this week.

Sen. Burch's move came under fire from both Opposition parties yesterday, because it stopped the Bails and Firearms Acts in their tracks days after his Progressive Labour Party colleagues rushed them through the House of Assembly.

The Bermuda Plan 2008, which provides zonings for land use and development policies across the Island, was approved in the House of Assembly last Friday.

Mr. Somner wrote in an e-mail to Senators: "Please be advised that because of time constraints on the legislative approval and gazetting of the Bermuda Plan 2008, the Junior Minister responsible for the Environment will ask that relevant rules be suspended at Senate's next meeting on 16th June 2010, so that he can move for Senate's consideration of the Bermuda Plan 2008 Planning Statement, together with the Bermuda Plan 2008 Zoning Maps and the Draft Bermuda Plan 2008 Tribunal Report.

"Copies of each of the noted items were tabled for distribution in Senate at our last meeting on 2nd June."