many of the Island's restrictive trade practices are on their way out.

Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul started the ball rolling a few days ago when he advocated the relaxation of Bermuda's uncompetitive regulations.

And yesterday it was the turn of the private sector as chairman of Bermuda International Business Association Mr. Richard Butterfield echoed his thoughts in an address to the Hamilton Rotary Club.

"A complex of protectionist laws, regulations and policies has settled on us like falling leaves over the decades,'' Mr. Butterfield said.

"We plan to examine them, select those which we really need, and discard the rest.

"Our membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has already put us on the line to do this because the agenda of the OECD is to reduce barriers to free trade.

"If we should elect to join the General Agreement on Trade in Services, which is under active consideration now, we shall be urged to eliminate unnecessary restrictions, for the same reason.'' Mr. Butterfield said Bermuda's many restrictive practices made it appear to some that the Island did not want international businesses to establish a physical presence.

"We intend to reverse that perception,'' he said. "Physical presence companies rent offices and homes, employ people, and buy equipment and services, all for foreign currency. Bermuda needs foreign currency.

"Almost all the goods and services we enjoy are originally purchased with foreign currency, whether they be imports, college fees or holidays abroad.'' During the 1990s, BIBA was striding to "recover Bermuda's strong customer orientation'', said Mr. Butterfield.

"This means striving for high productivity, which is the best way to lower costs without lowering income and it means recovering our traditional caring attitude, which is the best way to achieve and maintain high quality.

"Productivity and caring, which bring competitive costs and high quality, are our watch words. We are still better than our competitors but we're not as good as we know we can be.'' He added: "The international business industry is researching its customers and its markets to see what they want. We are searching ourselves to see where we fall short of providing what they want.'' Greater attention is also being given in making young people aware of the opportunities in the international business sector, said Mr. Butterfield.

An effort was being made to steer them towards education and training programmes which would prepare them for jobs in the sector.

Mr. Butterfield said it was important to understand that foreign companies were "valuable assets'' to Bermuda, like its other guests.

"We say to a tourist arriving at the airport `Welcome, and thank you for choosing Bermuda'. We should welcome business visitors in the same positive fashion.

"And yet how often do we catch ourselves saying `I see no real problem Mr.

Businessman, in agreeing to the incorporation of your company and to granting its manager a work permit?'' Mr. Richard Butterfield.