human values.'' The Hon. Sir John Swan appealed for Bermudians to make themselves the number one priority.

Tourists and international business should take second place -- however shocking that might sound, he said.

Sir John said Bermudians had too long worshipped the God of Materialism.

And it was time to rekindle a feeling of neighbourhood and restore hope throughout the Island.

It was important for the back of town to feel part of the Island.

"I don't think we have accomplished that,'' Sir John told Sandys Rotary Club last night.

"Not everybody is going to have an equal amount of materialism, but we can have an equal amount of spiritualism.'' Sir John added: "Bermudians should be made the number one. That should be our mission.

"We have not up to now made Bermudians the number one. We have made Bermuda the number one.

"We must make the guest, tourist and international business sector number two. I know that may shock you.'' Sir John stressed he was not decrying the importance of tourism and international business as economic moneyspinners.

But now was the time for "our people'' to take preeminence.

Sir John said a return to human values would be the best cure -- not money -- for the Island's social ills.

It would help cure the scourges of AIDS, drugs, and violence.

And it would also encourage the `back of town' to feeling a part of the Island.

Sir John, speaking at Southampton's Henry VIII restaurant, said he had watched Bermuda grow economically since the 1960s.

She had become one of the world's richest Country's, with her people enjoying enormous wealth.

But Sir John feared materialism had taken over from spiritualism.

And he warned that fast economic growth could herald an equally fast economic decline.

"We have made materialism almost our God, and we have elected not to use it as a facilitator or as a means for improving our value system,'' said Sir John.

He added people rated each other by the size of their bank accounts and pocket books.

Bermuda was losing the ability to be good neighbours.

"That is the theme of my speech tonight. We have got to become good neighbours again,'' said Sir John.

Sir John said a return to human values was essential for Bermuda to meet the myriad challenges of the 21st century.

The Country, because of her size, was in a unique position to be a world leader.

And Sir John said Sandys Rotary Club could be an example to the Island.