For businesses there are four good reasons why they will welcome the ending of term limits.Ÿ Less administration asking for exceptionsŸ Better business continuity when a non-key position does not require cycling of expatriates if a Bermudian candidate does not existŸ Businesses will be more likely to invest in staff locally as there is less likelihood of a forced turnoverŸ The human capital in Bermuda will be increasedIn a nutshell it is a business-friendly policy and it is those policies that are desperately needed at the moment. As they say it ‘sends out the right signals’ and Government has to help get business moving by allowing a friendly framework within which to operate.If Government’s interpretation of the law is correct, it will not increase the number of permanent residents. In addition, work permits remain and it is work permits, not term limits, which will protect local jobs.It is also a worker-friendly policy as it gives businesses of all sizes the ability to plan long-term thus encouraging retention and recruitment of staff. As already mentioned, the human capital in Bermuda will be increased — and so will the trickledown effect.It is quite understandable that in this economic climate hard-pressed Bermudians not only want to see jobs created and protected, but also want to be given equal access to the top jobs.That will not change as the work permits remain and through that employers will still have to prove that there is no suitable Bermudian available. Government has also made it plain it will be quick to penalise infringements.So it is a shame that the Minister has to talk about the existence in Bermuda of xenophobia. It is an emotion and therefore can be irrational.To get out of this economic mess, however, we need to be united and rational.