That was the warning from National Liberal Party leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell.

And he criticised a move to build at Daniel's Head, former home of the Canadian forces.

Said Mr. Darrell: "Over development has as much social and economic evil as under development.

"Let's be very careful of the decisions made today for our people of tomorrow.'' Mr. Darrell said Bermuda was, proportionately, one of the most densely populated countries in the world.

The population had swelled over the last 13 years by the granting of status.

While the birthrate between 1980-1991 had dropped 53 percent, there had been a 26 percent leap in status granting.

"Further, our traffic is bumper to bumper, our open spaces are disappearing, there is a surplus of housing and the list of failing businesses is growing,'' said Mr. Darrell.

"All together this indicates Bermuda is in a recession, but we still must be careful how we accept projects that supposedly lead to growth of the economy.'' Mr. Darrell said his party questioned the intent and purpose of the Government committee, headed by former Senator the Hon. Charles Collis, looking into the future of Daniel's Head.

"Any project that this committee considers needs new buildings and concrete is contrary to the Environment Ministry's intent to conserve open spaces.

"A case in point, why would the former Senator consider covering Daniel's Head any further with buildings and at the same time a private property owner cannot get permission to develop acquired property.

"This indicates patent unfairness or unthinking.'' Mr. Darrell said the NLP backed some "diversification'' of Bermuda's economic activity.

Tourism and international business, however, would remain the Island's mainstays.

"A closely knit community such as ours needs to find just the amount of business to support the existing residents with a controlled steady growth of two percent per year.

"We do not need to be generating so much business that we have to import extra hands to take care of that business.

"Only the persons at the very top benefit by such a state of affairs.''