A PROPOSAL for sustainable development remains before Cabinet but could be presented for public opinion next month.

A valiant effort was made to deliver the Sustainable Development and Implementation Plan on time, said Erica Smith, director of Sustainable Development. However the plan to put the project before the public in March was scuppered.

"I think it was very ambitious to begin with," she said yesterday. "It's the first time we've gone through such a process. We didn't know what to expect and we wanted to ensure that all our minds were wrapped around the task at hand."

The result of a months-long process which sought input from all members of the community, the Sustainable Development and Implementation Plan is intended to create a framework for Bermuda's economic, social and environmental future.

A preliminary draft of the findings of the Sustainable Development Unit was handed to Premier Alex Scott last December.

In February he said it was 85 per cent complete and before Cabinet: "Once Cabinet has concluded its review and provided its input to the Plan, another extensive period of public consultation will follow and be led by the Sustainable Development Roundtable and the Sustainable Development Unit."

Said Ms Smith yesterday: "The Plan is still being revised and updated to include perspectives from the public. It's gone through a series of review sessions with Cabinet and we've almost completed those sessions. We're now preparing the documents for public presentation and we're hoping to go forward in June."

Asked what in particular the Unit would be seeking the second time around, the director explained: "We want feedback on whether what we've captured is correct ? that we've included what they wanted to see as a vision, a future for Bermuda, and we also want feedback on whether we left out anything."

In December of last year, the Premier admitted there were challenges in getting everyone to buy into the concept of sustainable development, revealing that only six in ten residents were aware of the project. Asked whether she believed the situation is the same today, Ms Smith spoke optimistically of strides that had been made.

"Obviously, creating a Sustainable Development Plan is a new project for Bermuda," she said. "We're learning as we go along. Since the beginning of last year, more Bermudians are cognisant of the problems and issues we're dealing with.

"We've made progress. And so while we'd like feedback from every resident, realistically, we know that's not going to happen. But we intend to use as many outreach techniques as we can ? to try and grab people through the media, at public meetings, on our web site, via e-mail, through television and radio spots and regular mail.

"We believe Bermuda has come a long way in a short period of time. It bodes well for our future. We've had feedback on the first consultation in various forms ? through phone calls, e-mails, meetings with 50 or 70 different outreach organisations and groups, consultations with Government and the private sector.

"I'm quite heartened. I think we have to take steps to look closely at where we are and what we need to do to hold ourselves in good stead for the future."

She said the Sustainable Development Unit had also consulted with experts on sustainable development elsewhere, who had "endorsed" what Bermuda was trying to achieve and how we were going about doing it.

In light of the staggered response by residents to the seatbelt law and legislation against smoking in bars and restaurants, this newspaper asked Ms Smith how optimistic she was that the public would quickly adapt to recommended lifestyle changes.

"I'm confident but I'm not naive," she said. "Some issues will be difficult to tackle but I think the commitment is great enough. I think there will be a few growing pains but I think we've been very realistic in what's proposed in the Plan.

"During the consultation phase, the Bermudian public can let us know whether or not we got it right ? I think we have. I think it's a reasonable document and will meet the objectives of many."

Ms Smith said the objectives are divided into four categories, each labelled as an immediate, short-term, medium or long-term goal. Success is to be monitored regularly through feedback and annual reports and a five-year timeline is to be set for revision and benchmarking accomplishment.

Asked what she would say to residents who are concerned now about issues likely to be monitored better once the Sustainable Development Plan is implemented, Ms Smith said: "I can sympathise with the public. Bermuda is definitely different than it was ten, 20, 40, 100 years ago.

"The Plan will be about trying to ensure a balance between economic, environmental and social issues. We can't stop things that are in progress, things that are (about to begin), but sustainable development ? as a concept and its principles ? has been infiltrated within the Government system."