Education is the key to ensuring the people of Bermuda are equipped to compete in the world of e-commerce, a leading businessmen has claimed.

Dueane Dill, vice president of Atlantic Security, said in a world where competition was strong, Bermuda had to stay one step ahead of the game.

Mr. Dill, who is also chairman of the local marketing committee for the Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA), spoke to the Hamilton Lions Club about his vision for e-commerce in Bermuda.

A member of the Lions club, he said: "Nothing in life is guaranteed, however, we feel that without having a sound education and some commitment and determination, you won't have the skill set to take advantage of opportunities when they do make themselves available to you.

"If we do not tool ourselves to the opportunities, they will pass us by.

"Our lives have changed over the past few decades...it's much faster.

"Bermuda has become far more competitive. In order for us to compete not just in Bermuda, but in the global world, we have to make sure we are equipped to do so.'' He said it was up to everyone on the Island to ensure that they could compete for the work, and although that issue was now being addressed, Bermuda had to ensure that it was not left behind by its major competitors.

Ensuring that all children on the Island were given a good education, and then making on-going training available to workers was the only way to stay ahead.

And he likened the business world in Bermuda to heavy-weight boxer Mike Tyson.

Mr. Dill added: "He was never supposed to be beaten on paper, but he was knocked out when nobody expected him to be by James Buster Douglas.

"That's what will happen to Bermuda if we don't keep fit.'' He said ten years' ago Dublin was not known as a major e-commerce hub, but now it is a world centre for business.

"We can't sit back on our laurels and be reliant on our past performance. We are only as good as our last deal. But news travels a lot faster now. We have to be cognizant of who our client is and we have to adapt.'' But he said no matter what Bermuda wanted for its future, the young people of today were what mattered.

Without them on board, the future of Bermuda will be bleak, he said.

He added: "It has to start with education. Giving our young people a sound education is the key.'' At the end of his speech, one of the Lions asked Mr. Dill if he thought there were sufficient young men and women leaving school to sustain industry at this time, to which he responded a flat "no''.

He said the population of Bermudian people was, in fact, on the decline, rather than increasing.

BUSINESS BUC