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The relationship between the Bermuda Government and the International business community is strong. The state of our economy is strong.

Those two fundamental truths may have been difficult to grasp over the past few days. I want to make sure the truth is not lost among the gossip and bar talk.

As I have said repeatedly, international businesses contribute a tremendous amount of goodwill and wealth to our community.

The members of the international business community are our friends, and we want our friends to be successful.

Any policy the Government contemplates is a delicate balancing act - designed to look out for the best interest of Bermudians, while not interrupting successful commerce.

This balancing act is never easy. That's why we constantly talk with leaders of the international business community to gauge their input.

Yesterday I met with the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers. We've agreed the content of our discussions should remain private, but I think it's permissible for me to say our 40 minute talk was frank and productive and forward moving.

ABIR and the Government of Bermuda are allies and there's a dedicated effort on both sides to keep it that way.

Last week I met for dinner with a small group of U.S. business executives.

Last week I also hosted the President of the Chamber of Commerce for a chat.

Later this month I meet with the Executive Board of the Chamber of Commerce.

The dialogue is consistently underway, despite news that may suggest otherwise.

I listen to their views, I hope they listen to mine, and in the end, we should have a resolution somewhere in the middle - a resolution where the best interests of Bermudians are preserved and the path to successful commerce is protected. That's the goal of a responsible Government.

We are focused on achieving that goal.

There is one other subject I should broach. Last month I delivered a speech in Washington at the request of an international economic organization.

Goodwill Plus

During that speech I talked about something I call Goodwill Plus. It was not the first time I spoke publicly on the issue. In previous addresses it was sometimes referred to as an apprentice programme.

The issue was discussed before the Chamber of Commerce, at the Bermuda Race Relations Initiative and in other places. All of those talks happened in Bermuda and in some cases my political opponents were present.

The speech in Washington was not the first time I have spoken publicly on Goodwill Plus.

Members of the media, and perhaps the public, have been misled on this point.

Additionally, when I talk about Goodwill Plus I never do so without also talking about a reformed public education system. If you revisit the speech you will see a dedicated effort to discuss education reform in conjunction with Goodwill Plus. The two must co-exist. For reasons that need not be restated at this time, our country has fallen short on education and we need to fix it. We will fix it.

As I said in the speech last month and have repeated here today: The international business community is already providing the goodwill. We must do our part now to provide the plus.

We will attempt to do so as partners with the business sector. If we fail, Bermuda is the loser.[[In-content Ad]]

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