The furore surrounding the proposed residential development at the Tucker’s Point Resort, and the granting of a Bermuda Government Special Development Order (SDO) to facilitate this process, in many ways epitomises the challenge of achieving a sustainable development paradigm that satisfies all. For me, the issues Bermuda is grappling with concerning this current debate represents on a microcosm the developmental challenge that Bermuda faces on a whole, and indeed what many societies internationally are increasingly faced with, particularly as the pace of industrialisation increases, the world becomes more globalised and society becomes more urbanised.Sustainable development as a concept is often defined as development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Thus at the centre of the sustainable development paradigm stands the human actor and their perceived needs. To reflect the holistic nature of human life, when considering sustainable development these human needs are often compartmentalised into three distinct components of human life environmental, economic and social. Achieving sustainable development as defined above however is extremely difficult, as development tends to mean different things to different people and as a result our environmental, economic and social needs towards development also vary. Our diverse perceptions of what constitutes development, and the accompanying diversity in needs, is what often leads to conflicts of interest in debates surrounding this topic. The Tucker’s Point case provides a text book study in this regard. At best, sustainable development, is a utopian ideal hoped to be achieved. At its worst, sustainable development can become an ambiguous and amorphous construct, which due to its incorporeal nature, allows it to be used towards personalized agendas on behalf of special interests.To be fair, the expression of ideals and opinions according to one’s own interests is most likely natural and part of our human instinct. In actuality, the fact that Bermuda as a society is able to engage in such robust community debates based on expressed concerns emanating from our own specific self-interests is reflective of a healthy democratic society. The reality is that no matter how many resources are placed towards the consideration of our individual or collective actions, one cannot expect to please all the people all the time. In a sense then, sustainable development becomes about compromise. As a society, we must weigh up the cost and benefits of developmental challenges according to our needs and attempt to move in the direction that will bring the most holistic benefit for both our present and future generations. Thus selflessness not selfishness becomes key.To be clear and direct, I believe that the constraints placed on the development at Tucker’s Point by the Bermuda Government SDO are largely positive and offers a comprehensive attempt to balance economic, social and environmental needs when Bermuda’s general interests are taken as a whole. Economically, the development, if successful, surely will bring much needed activity to a diverse range of commercial activities such as the banking, insurance, construction, retail and services sectors as well as the addition of financial inputs directly or indirectly relating to these into the government purse. It is no doubt that jobs will be created if this project goes ahead, just as existing jobs have already undoubtedly been supported both in the private sector and in government just through the planning and ensuing debate of the project alone.Although there has been concern over the financial viability of the development for the long term, it is not the realm of the general public or special interests groups to impede the commercial progress of private enterprise that they are not contractually part of. This should be left to the contracted parties involved. Tucker’s Point is a privately owned development and has been for some time, despite what those who I feel disingenuously and for their own self-serving purposes attempted to invoke the name of its former black residents would have one think. To interfere in this manner on behalf of our own special interests beyond what is legal, moral and rational is to take on more than what is in our right to do. We are not a communist society and indeed this freedom to do business will become increasingly critical as our population adjusts to a new paradigm based not on socialism or labourite-ism, those being past cures for a past disease with an unfortunate hangover of entitlement, but a paradigm based on freedom and free-market competition with the ceiling placed solely by one’s individual’s desire and ambition to achieve.‘Non-human nature’, both inanimate and animate, holds ecological value and many environmental services are provided through natural ecology that are beneficial if not critical to human life. Although this ‘non-human nature’ may hold no intrinsic value to many, for me personally, it is worth protecting as an accompanying enhancement to life on earth and to aid the quality of life for society. The reality is, however unfortunate, that for many, myself, my parents and my children included, the land that comprises Tucker’s Point Resorts has never been openly accessible to me, so from this perspective as long as the ecological value of the land is maintained than access to it is not relevant in my case and the case of others like me. Environmentally, the real concern as expressed by some key figures in the local environmental and conservation movement is the potential loss of native and endemic species as well as the potential threat to unique endemic cave systems. While natives and endemics can be planted, replanted or transplanted, Bermuda’s globally unique and internationally renowned cave systems cannot. However, if the conditions of the SDO are respected and adhered to by the developer, not only will there be a net gain to open space accessible by the general public but there will be no net loss to not only the physical environmental resources present at the development but also to the ecological value that is inherent through the environmental services (e.g. pollination, birds as natural pest control, etc.) they currently provide. One might even argue that the value of the environmental resources might actually increase upon development as unique ecological systems such as caves and the presence of endemic and native species actually will become a more valued commodity under the context of an amenity enjoyed by the resort’s clients and thus receive greater protection and attention than their current isolated and inaccessible status.I truly feel that Bermudians need to be able to make up their own minds as individuals and collective communities as to what they feel about this development and others like it. Indeed it is the collective vision of all those who have a stake in this little island that many call home to decide, and then create for themselves, their idea of ‘future Bermuda’. In order to do this, I genuinely believe that there must be a balance between opinions and facts, especially as the influence of the media and those who have access to it holds such sway in creating momentum one way or the other in this small island community with its accompanying small island mentalities. I encourage all Bermudians to view the development proposal for themselves, ask questions to obtain answers you may not have and continue to raise your standard according to the paradigm you desire, not one that is decided for you.