BackThe Bermuda government authorised the development of the tourist resort 'Tucker’s Point' without requiring an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) beforehand. Bermuda Ombudsman Arlene Brock has found this unlawful and investigated civil servants’ fact-gathering and analysis in the lead-up to the Parliamentary approval of the SDO.
The report ‘Today’s Choice – Tomorrow’s Cost' presents the findings of the systemic investigation regarding the Tucker’s Point Special Development Order. Brock points out that Bermuda signed the UK Environment Charter in 2001 and is therefore obliged to conduct an EIA prior to approving any major development which has been ignored in case of this tourist resort. The Ombudsman is convinced that these assessments are vital procedural tools, not only for calculating the environmental risks but also to ensure a broad public disclosure. Brock states that EIAs are international best-practice for development proposals and Bermuda is required to carry them out for good reasons.
“This was not a question of whether or not tourism development should be encouraged” Ms Brock said, “Rather, this was a case of whether development should be carried out on one of Bermuda’s most environmentally sensitive pieces of land.” In such cases there must be comprehensive information available to the decision makers, the Ombudsman states and points out that such information has to be gained by the civil service. The report does not find fault with individual civil servants, emphasizing that this was a collective failure.
Find further information as well as the full report on the institution's webpage.
