Government claims its Blueprint for its last term of office has left them singing anything but the blues. Today, Environment Minister Harry Soares outlines progress on pledges made for his portfolio in this final installment of an occassional series highlighting the eight separate areas of the document.

Hi-tech electric cars and taxis could be on the road to the future, Environment Minister Harry Soares said yesterday.

Mr. Soares said electric cars were duty free in Bermuda, although design difficulties made them unattractive.

But he added newer technology meant that clean-burn cars could become increasingly attractive.

Mr. Soares said: "I understand now that technology has caught up, Mexico City is getting several thousand electric taxis for the city centre.

"The technology has advanced so much that they are an increasingly viable option.'' But he added that power company, Belco, used oil-fired generators -- and electric cars are recharged at domestic powerpoints, so the use of ever-more-scarce fossil fuels and pollution would continue.

Mr. Soares said: "It's a bit of a trade-off -- but I'm optimistic about the electric car idea.'' But Mr. Soares -- back in Cabinet after a recent reshuffle by Premier Pamela Gordon -- said he was planning a new approach to green issues.

He explained: "I'm trying to bring a different type of focus -- we've got to look more at safeguarding the resource of the environment as opposed to trying to control the actions of people.

"My philosophy is to allow people to do as much as they can, providing we don't hurt -- Mother Nature.'' Mr. Soares added that he had seen a gradual change in people's attitude to protecting the environment -- a change for the better.

He said Government worked with lobster fishermen and divers to protect the species and allow people to make a living or enjoy their sport.

And he said -- after he explained to a group of fishermen that larger lobsters laid far more eggs than smaller ones -- fishermen themselves suggested that a maximum size of catch should be introduced alongside current rules on minimum size.

And he cited the case of a man who wanted to encroach on protected woodland reserve to build a house.

Mr. Soares said the man was allowed to cut into the reserve by a few feet -- but only in return for designating a much larger area of trees on the other side of the plot as reserve.

Mr. Soares was speaking as he outlined progress of Government's series of green pledges contained in the Blueprint for the 1993 General Election.

Of ten promises, one is listed as complete, one as ongoing and eight as implemented/recurring.

Among the achievements listed are 40 acres of land bought and protected as open space since 1992.

And eight existing public parks have been improved to make them "more inviting, accessible to all and a source of enjoyment for all members of the public.'' A major project also well underway is the development of a park on the site of the old Pembroke Marsh waste tip.

Mr. Soares added that Government -- which already has 215 plants licensed under clean air laws -- was working to extend the scheme to spray-paint operations, dry cleaners, and other businesses which produce exhaust and fumes.

Water testing has now been transferred from the Works and Engineering Ministry, while the Water Authority and Environmental Agency were consolidated in a bid to better deal with green issues.

And Mr. Soares said he sensed a change in attitudes to the Island's natural resources.

He added: "It's great to get people coming on board and saying they want to look at the environment.

"Our policies are being endorsed very strongly by groups like the National Trust and I definitely feel a new era coming.

"We as a people, I think, are really now coming on board more and more in understanding that, without biodiversity and sustainable approach, we will have no future.''