A war of words erupted over Southlands yesterday as a developer likened environmental campaigners to “a bunch of beggars”.

Members of Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) clashed with Nelson Hunt of Southlands Ltd. during an early morning protest against the South Shore resort.

Angry insults were exchanged, with Mr. Hunt calling one local resident a “stupid bitch” after she allegedly called him a “stupid ass”.

Last night Mr. Hunt said: “She called me an ass so I wasn’t taking it. I don’t have any grudges against them but I don’t expect to take abuse.”

The peaceful demonstration turned ugly after Mr. Hunt approached BEST committee member Milton Raposo as he was being interviewed by VSB TV.

Mr. Raposo, 34, of Smith’s, told The Royal Gazette: “He showed up next to the camera as I was being interviewed and was revving his motorbike engine, muzzling the sound. Basically he was saying the land was his and that although we had a right to be here, he had a right to do anything he wanted to with his land.

“Then a woman came out of nowhere and accused him of taking land, and he started shouting insults.”

Lisa Vickers, another committee member was caught up in the verbal crossfire after she attempted to film the altercation on her digital camera.

The film footage shows Mr. Hunt who is heard to say: “You want to be an asshole too? You people are completely out of order.”

Mrs. Vickers, 29, of Smith’s, who is also a Greenpeace environmental campaigner, said: “Mr. Hunt came up on his bike and started revving his engine so Milton couldn’t be heard. He kept repeating: ‘The land doesn’t belong to you’.

“I said there were planning restrictions on the land and that they were there for a good reason.”

Viewing the tape, Mr. Hunt referred to the campaigners as: “You’re like a bunch of beggars”.

He also told them: “If you don’t want us to build on it, buy it.”

He said: “This is a private concern. Go and get a cheque, put the cheque on the table and then we can talk.”

Mrs. Vickers tells him: “Large sections of the land is zoned as woodland reserve and open space,” to which he replies: “It doesn’t matter.”

The woman who intervenes has not been identified, but is believed to live on land bordering Southlands. BEST said she was not a member of their group.

On the tape, she appears to tell Mr. Hunt that he forced her out of her home one night after lighting a bonfire near her property. She says: “I had to evacuate my house at 10 p.m. He didn’t care”. She then accuses Mr. Hunt of “laughing in my face”, to which he replies: “Of course I laughed and I’ll laugh again in your face.”

Mr. Hunt, one of the three owners of Southlands Ltd., last night said: “I didn’t go there this morning with any intentions. I believe they have a right to object.”

He said the campaigners had been invited to join the planning process from the start but they had not shown any interest.

“We offered to show them, to take them around on a tour but they weren’t interested, even before the process started. A lot of things could have been put on the table and discussed with them, but they didn’t want discussion, they just wanted confrontation.

“Now they’re trying to make us look like the bad guys, but we tried to include everyone in the process from day one.

“We’ve never said (bad) anything about them,” he said.

BEST last night refused to comment on the row.

Their demonstration aimed to transform the area earmarked for the 37-acre cliffside resort into “an environmental crime scene”. Yellow tape was stretched along the roadside of the South Shore to cover the distance of the development.

The protest attracted more than 100 BEST campaigners plus members of the public. They stood along the roadside holding banners stating ‘Say No to SDO’ and ‘Crime Scene’.

While most commuters greeted those present with supportive beeps of horns, there were some drivers in disagreement, with one motorist shouting “Get a life”.

BEST committee member Robin Lang however, said the protest had been a resounding success.

Mr. Lang, 32, of St. George’s said: “We’ve seen a lot of new faces today and a lot of college kids home for the holidays who are showing their support. What we’ve laid out here is an environmental crime scene because we feel that Southlands is a crime against Bermuda.

“We are also trying to let people know we are still here and want to increase awareness. We are still trying to raise the issue with the Minister of Environment and are hoping at some point that she will hear what we have to say and invite us in to talk.”

Mr. Lang said: “One of the things that gets me is the abundance of luxury housing that is being built. Bermuda doesn’t need any more luxury accommodation, whether residential or fractional ownership.

“The value to the community of this development is questionable. In fact it is questionable whether there is any, beyond that delivered to the developers.”

Mr. Lang, an environmental engineer, said: “This is the last 37 acres of open space we have left on the Island. I’m fed up with the lack of planning that is going on in Bermuda. We’ve got the Grand Atlantic Resort, the proposed luxury residential units for Crosse and Sinky Bay, and the proposed development on part of the Southampton Princess golf course.

“There seems to be no thought on the combined impact of these developments.”

BEST committee member Jean Flath, 57, of Devonshire, said: “In a way we are fighting an uphill battle because everyone seems to want to put us in a political box but we’re not a political group, we’re an environmental group.”

Campaigner Nancy Wadson, a mother-of-two and teacher from Paget, held the placard ‘Make this a national park’. She explained: “We have so little open space left and it’s just a crime to destroy what we have left. This is going to benefit a few when it should be benefiting the whole nation.

“I don’t think many people are aware of the magnitude and the damage this is going to do. I don’t think this is going to benefit the average Bermudian. I’ve been driving on this road since I was little and why should I and the children of Bermuda have to drive through a tunnel and not be able to enjoy this view.

“I think that the Government should buy this land for the people of Bermuda.”

Helge Wingate, 76, of St. David’s, added: “We are doing this for future generations. We can’t give away the birth right of children. This development does not make sense, Bermuda already has over-employment.”

There have recently been rumours that Cabinet has approved a Special Development Order for the 497-bed resort in Warwick. Yesterday however, there was still no official announcement in the Official Gazette.

Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield, who has the final say, made no comment. A Government spokesman said: “The Minister does not wish to comment at this time on the Southlands SDO.”

Jumeirah Southlands would offer tourist accommodation in a variety of suites and condominiums. The 300-suite cliff side resort would feature five restaurants and bars, a nightclub, spa, swimming pools, equestrian centre and conference centre.

Dubai-based Jumeirah Group wants to open the resort by next summer, pending the SDO and approval of building permits.

The controversial application has provoked strong feelings in the community and among environmental campaigners.

Government says Jumeirah Southlands is needed to cater for the Island’s rising tourist numbers. It would be the first ‘luxury resort’ constructed in Bermuda for 35 years and would offer 590 full time positions. Environmental campaigners however, say the development will destroy one of the Island’s last remaining areas of open space. More than 3,200 people have signed a BEST petition to ‘Save the South Shore’.

Concern to protect the natural coastline was heightened last month when the Government approved an SDO for a nine-storey hotel next to Southlands, on the Golden Hind site. The 220-room Grand Atlantic Resort and Residences by Atlantic Development covers 13.1 acres. BEST is to broadcast the documentary ‘Southlands and South Shore’ on Sunday at 7 p.m. on VSB.

Developer clashes with environment crusaders