Former Digicel CEO Wayne Caines has been announced as the chairman of the Cross Island Legacy Committee.

The group has been tasked with engaging the public to find an end use for the nine acres of land that will be the home of the America’s Cup event village.

“This whole consultation is about getting ideas from everyone because, in Bermuda terms, this is a huge piece of land and therefore a huge opportunity,” Mr Caines, of telecommunications and organisational management firm Seniac Consulting, said. “Put simply, it is nine acres of opportunity.

“The committee will engage with as many people on as many different levels as we can because we want to be engaging and as consultative over this vastly important project as we can.”

Other committee members include Andy Burrows from the Bermuda Tourism Authority, Wedco business development manager Joanna Cranfield, Kirk Outerbridge from the Department of Works and Engineering, Aideen Ratteray-Pryse from the Department of Planning, Philip Seaman, of Pj Designs and a member of the Wedco board, and Elena Strong from the National Museum of Bermuda.

“When it comes to looking at ideas, we will be sensitive to the marine environment and historic nature of [the] Royal Naval Dockyard,” Mr Caines said.

“In addition, we will try and ensure that any use provides social and economic benefits to Bermuda and that its end use is connected to Bermuda’s heritage and culture.

“Of course, it must also be financially viable. One day, I want to look back and tell people how I and the committee worked to make sure this left a lasting legacy.”

Mr Caines said key stakeholders will be consulted either privately or through a series of meetings, the first of which is set to take place on Wednesday at the Deloitte offices.

Deloitte was brought in by the West End Development Corporation to support the committee’s consultation and decision-making over the future of Cross Island.

Each submission will be judged according to a set matrix and a final recommendation will be made to Wedco.

People can fill in an online form available here. A paper form will also be available at the Corporation of Hamilton and the Wedco offices and can be submitted in person or via crossisland@deloitte.com.

For more information, visit the Cross Island Facebook page.