Environmental and conservation groups have spoken of their regret at the departure of Environment Minister Elvin James.

The Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST), Greenrock, and the Bermuda National Trust commented on Tuesday's Cabinet reshuffle just a day after Mr. James' pledge to protect Southlands from development.

Sustainable development group Greenrock also expressed concern that the reshuffle could prove "disruptive" to the Ministry. President Andrew Vaucrosson questioned the "hasty" move of Mr. James from the Environment portfolio following his "public promise".

BEST and the National Trust have both lodged objections to the Bermuda Draft Plan 2008, in that Southlands is still zoned as Tourism and Residential One, despite Premier Ewart Brown's assertion that it was "most likely" to become a national park.

Since the announcement of the land swap between Southlands and Morgan's Point in April, Government has declined to comment further on its plans for the 37-acre South Shore estate.

Owners Southlands Ltd. were given 80 acres of brownfield land at Morgan's Point in exchange for the greenfield site, with the former US Naval Air Station to become the new location for the Jumeirah hotel project.

At a press conference on Monday, Mr. James, when asked whether Southlands would become a national park, replied: "I represent the Environment. I would fight for it all the way."

On Tuesday however, Dr. Brown announced Mr. James is to be the new Education Minister while Government Whip Glenn Blakeney is to take over the Environment and Sports portfolio.

Yesterday, BEST chairman Stuart Hayward said: "Too bad we had to lose Environment Minister El James after he got religion, so to speak, and pledged to fight all the way for the Southlands property to become a park.

"Mr. Blakeney has yet to distinguish himself, either as a Minister or as a champion of the environment. We'll just have to wait and see.

"Always when you have a quick change of Minister it takes a while to get a new Minister up to speed, and during that time it's the environment of the people which may suffer."

Mr. Hayward added: "It's unfortunate the Environment is such a low priority to the Government in that it's treated to the most junior and most new of Ministers."

National Trust director Jennifer Gray said: "We are sorry to hear El James is leaving as Environment Minister, especially on the heels of his support for Southlands. We wish him the best of luck in his new Ministry. We hope the transfer goes well and we welcome Glenn Blakeney into the Ministry."

Andrew Vaucrosson, president of Greenrock, said: "On behalf of Greenrock, I was not surprised to learn about the changing of the guard in Cabinet.

"(Education Minister) Randy Horton's dismissal was expected, considering the Party leadership challenge several weeks ago. El James' move seems hasty and somewhat awkward when you consider his public promise that Southlands will, under his watch, become public parkland in response to BEST and Bermuda National Trust concerns.

"And the addition of Glenn Blakeney – who has never held a Government portfolio – only seems natural considering that the Environment Ministry seems to be the training ground for up-and-coming team players.

"Greenrock has stated in numerous cases that mid-term Cabinet shuffles like this tend to have a detrimental effect on the execution of promises and policies within any given Ministry. One cannot expect a new Minister to take over a portfolio and automatically accept the direction of his predecessor.

"Only logic says, if the predecessor was doing such an outstanding job there would be no reason to move them mid-term. Under Government's own Sustainable Development plan (Theme 5: Transforming Governance and the Public Sector), there is lengthy discussion about cross-departmental collaboration and improving trust between Ministers and senior civil servants.

"Bermuda has always promoted itself as a jurisdiction that has 'stable' government. Education and the Environment Ministries are important Ministries to our social fabric and sustainable development. These sorts of changes can be very disruptive and can lower the public's trust in Government. It makes one wonder can Bermuda live up to its 'talk'."