We have always prided ourselves on our great sports traditions in Bermuda. The Bermuda Tourism Authority is now focusing their tourism campaigns around golf, sailing, football, cricket, rugby and other sporting events. Some of the World’s best golfers, sailors and rugby players have come to our island to compete because we offer some of the best facilities in a beautiful location with an ideal climate. Despite Bermuda’s small population, our sports programs have produced some top athletes thanks to islands commitment to our youth leagues and professional development programs. Our forefathers had the vision to recognize that they needed to preserve some of Bermuda’s limited land for recreation purposes. Even before Bermuda’s strict planning rules were implemented to protect recreational space, the founders of Riddell’s Bay Golf and Country Club Ltd. understood the value of sport on our island. In 1921, the oldest golf course in Bermuda was formed by a 1921 Act of Parliament which states “The Company shall have the power to engage in and carry on in the Islands, the business of proprietors of places of amusement, entertainment, recreation and sport…” It would be a travesty to allow real estate developers to close down this historic golf course and sell the real estate in violation of the 1921 Act of Parliament. This is a precedent that jeopardizes all sports clubs in Bermuda. If Riddell's Bay is rezoned for property development, then there is no stopping Belmont, Tucker's Point, Southampton Princess and any other golf course or sports club owner to do the very same as a precedent will be set. All bets will be off and we will lose all of our precious land to property developers. You only have to look at this image of Riddell's Bay to see how desperately we need, open, green, recreational space. We are overbuilt and can never replace what has been lost. Imagine this last area of Bermuda, torn up with concrete houses everywhere, instead of the lush, green land that is currently there. Nearly 90 precious acres. We ask our Government Officials and new Minister of Planning, the Honorable Sylvan Richards Junior, JP MP to allow us to discuss our plans to keep Riddell's Bay as a golf course and to prevent its dismemberment and sell off by property developers who are only out for profit. Please enforce the 1921 Act and keep the Riddell's Bay Golf and Country club property protected for many generations to come..