Opposition senators will today urge Government to amend a new law allowing the former Club Med site to be turned into a luxury five-star resort.

The United Bermuda Party wants the Park Hyatt (St. George's) Resort Act 2008 to stipulate that any lease concerning the land should go before parliamentarians before being approved.

The Opposition has serious concerns that much of the 125-acre property is to be leased to developer Carl Bazarian for at least 131 years with an automatic right to renew for the same period of time. The part of the site on which condominiums will be built is to be leased for 262 years.

The UBP is worried that a vast chunk of public property in St. George's will be tied up for some 13 generations. It is also understood to fear a repeat of the Coco Reef situation when it considers that the controversial lease finally approved for the Stonington site in Paget with hotelier John Jefferis was vastly different to the one which formed the basis for tender.

The Park Hyatt bill was passed in the House of Assembly during a special session on Friday night, when Government MPs rejected the proposed amendment regarding the lease by 18 to 13 votes. It must now go before the Upper Chamber before it can become law.

Government's stance is that requiring the lease to go before both the House of Assembly and the Senate would cause unnecessary delays to the redevelopment of a site which has already stood derelict for two decades.

Premier Ewart Brown said last night: "We feel the terms of the lease are significantly contained in the Bill that is currently before the Legislature.

"Additionally, we must emphasise the need to be time-sensitive. It is clear that any superfluous delay on our part, in this stressed capital market, puts the future of the Club Med site in greater jeopardy.

"An efficient leasing process increases the likelihood of a fully financed, fully developed hotel project in St. George's. All sides have said that is the desired end game."

But UBP Leader Kim Swan said yesterday: "The Bill, when passed, will lock in land use across more than a quarter of St. George's for the next 262 years. It is incumbent on all MPs, as representatives of the people, to look at the fine print of the lease.

"Tabling it is one way to make sure the interests of the people of St. George's and those of future generations are protected.

"No one in their own lives would commit to a lease without first looking it over. This is about being diligent and responsible in the name of the people. It's as simple as that."

Opposition Chief Whip John Barritt said it was not unusual for long leases to go before Parliament. "It's most important that it goes before the elected representatives so that people can see what shape the deal takes," he added.

"The real nuts and bolts is what is going to be in the lease. Because of the length of the lease and the size of the property it ought to come back to Parliament and be seen in the light of day."

Opposition Senate Leader Michael Dunkley will attempt to get Senators to agree to the amendment today, along with two other changes proposed by the UBP on Friday but rejected by Government. One of those amendments would require Government to give direct notice to people whose property borders the Club Med site in case they have any right or claim on any part of the site which would be lost once the Park Hyatt (St. George's) Resort Act became law.

The other would require that any land compulsorily purchased by Government for the Park Hyatt development which is later intended for sale to anyone other than the developer should be offered back for sale first to the original owner or his/her successors.

Government did agree to one of the Opposition's proposals for an amendment on Friday which will protect the right to make a claim for compensation due to loss of land even if compensation has been paid to another.