throwing its support behind the Elbow Beach Hotel's controversial redevelopment plans.

Shadow Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen announced yesterday his party supported the Paget hotel's multi-million dollar expansion plans, although he said he would prefer the proposed beachfront "Palace suites'' be moved back slightly.

Mr. Allen said he found it an "extraordinary contradiction'' that the National Trust did not oppose the Ritz-Carlton Hotel plans, but is "strenuously objecting'' to the Elbow Beach Development Company's plans.

"It may be baffling to some but we believe there was significant pressure on the National Trust not to oppose the Ritz-Carlton plans,'' he charged.

The new Saudi Arabian and American owners of the Elbow Beach Hotel want permission to build a huge conference centre, a six-storey addition, 11 luxurious "Palace suites'' on the sand dunes of Elbow Beach and 29 super-luxury condominiums, which have Government approval to be sold to non-Bermudians.

The National Trust, two nearby cottage colonies and some residents are among the half a dozen objectors to the plans, which have now gone before the Development Applications Board for approval.

United Bermuda Party hopefuls in Paget West, Mr. Tim Smith, Mr. Mark Selley and Mr. Terry West last week also objected to parts of the plans, despite Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge's throwing his full support behind the project.

Mr. Allen said there were "several significant differences'' between the Ritz-Carlton plans -- which have been put on hold due to lack of financing -- and the Elbow Beach plans. The PLP had strongly objected to building a Ritz-Carlton hotel on the South Shore in Warwick.

Mr. Allen said the Elbow Beach Hotel's plans were basically to upgrade and enhance an existing hotel.

However, he said the Ritz-Carlton plans called for a completely new hotel to be erected when there were others such as Club Med and the Bermudiana Hotel inoperative and in need of upgrading.

He further pointed out: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel would be "clearly visible'' from South Shore Road -- "a major scenic route'' -- and loom two to three storeys higher than the Elbow Beach Hotel and the proposed six-storey extension which he claimed would not be easily seen from the road.

The Elbow Beach Hotel is not located in a "high-density residential area'' such as the Warwick East neighbourhood where the Ritz-Carlton would be located.

The Ritz-Carlton was planned for a "small 14-acre strip of land'', whereas the Elbow Beach Hotel is spread over 35 acres and is far more than 120 feet from the roadside.

Mr. Allen said although he was not very familiar with the hotel's plans for 39 condominiums, he was concerned they would be sold to non-Bermudians when there is a currently a glut in the housing market.

"I'd much rather we build housing Bermudians can afford first,'' he said.

However, he added the condominiums were planned for the Fritholme estate which he said is "already a very developed area''.

Mr. Allen also pointed out Warwick residents were so strongly against the Ritz-Carlton plans they had formed a large and vocal group to protest them.

But in the case of Elbow Beach Hotel's redevelopment plans, he said only a few residents had voiced objections.

"The bottom line is the PLP is not objecting to the plans,'' he said. "While we would not argue with the "Palace suites'' being set back a bit, we have no particular problem with the plans.''