Dear Sir,

If this were a poem, it would be titled Ode to Planning, or if a book — albeit a small one — Planning for Dummies. However it’s not, it’s just a letter. A letter I feel I must write if only to make it known how fortunate we are to have such a wonderfully run department.

The public perception of the planning department was at one time justifiably quite negative. Way back when I started my career, it was called the building authority, run by a motley group of retired wannabes, who, and to give credit where it is due, did very well considering what little they had to work with.

Fast forward to modern times where the public perception, by and large, has not changed. Sad! In spite of now being staffed by a most wonderfully qualified and personable staff and executive, the planning department always comes across as the bad guy, when nothing could be farther from the truth.

The grand reality is simply that if you have a problem with the planning department, you have bad representation! For the record, the planning department is as good as it’s ever been. Every citizen of this country has full and unfettered access to whoever is in a position to resolve their planning issues. No matter they be a farmer or hotelier, there is no reasonable — and that’s the key word, “reasonable” — application that will not be approved.

The appeal process, notwithstanding that it’s a lengthy one, works. I’ve quite successfully appealed applications that were refused, only because of the selfish ambitions of some with private agendas, who were obviously driven by greed and that “other” mindset. You know what I’m talking about.

My advice to those with development ambitions that could possibly run counter to the letter of the law: engage someone who knows what they’re doing!

Also, read the Bermuda Plan 2018. By doing that, the next step when you consult with a planner places you in a better position to understand the process. Planning has no ambition to seek ways to thwart your plans. They realise that it behoves property owners to maximise their properties’ potential and, truthfully, are actually happy when planning issues are resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. Invariably, I always leave the department with a smile on my face.

As I’ve written before, complaining just because you can only makes you seem less than brilliant. I’ve learnt long ago that you can’t stop progress. Covid put the implementation of digital submissions on the fast track. I now have to keep up with those procedures, and if I have a problem, one very polite e-mail to their IT person results in an equally polite and helpful response.

I’m not a poet, but I am however capable of composing a limerick.

Planning has now, for a while,

Been a place that should make you smile.

Cuz the days have long passed,

When you’d deal with an arse,

As this lot beats them by a mile.

CALVIN SIMONS

Sandys