Tourism and Transport Minister Ewart Brown is probably a better user of "spin" than Premier Alex Scott, in spite of the perception that Mr. Scott is a master of the method.

But even Dr. Brown was hard-pressed to put a good face on the strange goings on over the Club Med development, in which the holder of the exclusive right to put together a redevelopment plan recently lost that right and was replaced by an as yet unnamed financier.

Dr. Brown claimed that the change would now enable the redevelopment of the property to go ahead at long last, but failed to explain just why the previous group had not come up to the mark.

This is the latest turn in one of the great soap operas of Bermuda tourism. And like many soap opera plots, it seems destined to end badly.

Leaving aside the many development ideas that have come and gone since Club Med pulled out of the property, Wanda Dorosz of the Renaissance Consortium was introduced to Bermuda by then-Tourism Minister Renee Webb some two and a half years ago with a proposal to demolish the existing building and to replace it with a smaller resort.

What made Ms Dorosz's concept especially compelling was that it would include a heavy cultural and entertainment component that would be a new market for Bermuda and for St. George's as it continued to exploit its World Heritage Site status.

Last summer, it appeared that the project was on its way, in spite of a number of changes and infrastructure challenges — including, as was learned this week, the addition of houses for first-time Bermudian homeowners.

Nonetheless, the word was that the lease was due to be signed by the time the House of Assembly rose in July. That did not happen and promises were made that it would be presented to the House in the Autumn session. Again, nothing happened, and a deathly silence fell over the project.

Now it has been confirmed that Ms Dorosz's group is out, and has apparently been replaced by this person who previously had ties to the project.

Some Government sources have said Ms Dorosz was unable to show she had the financing for the project, a claim she denies. She has also taken the decision with surprising equanimity, in public at least.

But it is hard to believe that this episode will do Bermuda's reputation any good. The Four Seasons hotel group, arguably one of the best chains in the world, must be bemused, to say the least.

Other potential developers, having seen Ms Dorosz invest millions of dollars and years of work in the project all for nought, will certainly be wary of Bermuda now. And the world of hotel developers is small — there is no doubt that others will hear of this episode.

To be sure, developing a major hotel in Bermuda is difficult. The Island's high structural costs make it difficult for a hotelier to make a profit compared to other parts of the world, while the high cost of air travel (in spite of Dr. Brown's herculean efforts) continues to be a barrier. In addition, no hotel has been a commercial success at the Club Med site.

Still, it appeared that Bermuda had a bird in the hand in the Renaissance Consortium and the public deserves a fuller explanation of why that particular bird was released.