Mr. Mansfield (Jim) Brock.

But the report of the Commission on Competitiveness was still being polished, and it could be March before it was delivered to Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan, Mr. Brock told The Royal Gazette .

"I have the final report,'' Mr. Brock said. "I have to make that report to the Premier in due course. I've just received it.'' The Commission, which drew on a large number of Bermudians through various subcommittees, is to make recommendations on ways to enhance Bermuda's tourism and international business. It is also to explore other opportunities for the Island.

Yesterday, Commission members discussed some of the ideas and recommendations that would be contained in the report.

In tourism, the emphasis would not be on advertising or marketing, but on product, said Mr. James Masters, who chaired that section of the Commission.

"Right from the welcome at the Airport, to transportation, to entertainment,'' Mr. Masters said. "How all of these issues are managed locally.'' The tourism report was ready in September, he added.

The thrust of the international business study was "making Bermuda more user-friendly'' to international opportunities, said outgoing Bermuda International Business Association head Mr. Richard Butterfield.

"We are endeavouring to get removed some of the restrictions which are not necessary and which are not accomplishing a lot.'' As an example of a positive change, Mr. Butterfield cited the recently-passed law regulating international arbitration conducted on the Island. It said lawyers who came to Bermuda to conduct international arbitration would not require work permits, and what they brought with them to perform their work would not be subject to Customs duties, he said.

Anticipated changes to the Companies Act would also help. Mostly only fine tuning was required, he said. `I don't think it's a question of trying to raise a sleeping giant. We're trying to maintain and perhaps in some ways improve our competitive position.'' Mr. John Collis, who chaired the section dealing with future opportunities, said Bermuda could much better weather a recession if it had more industry outside the two major pillars of tourism and international business.

Currently, the mindset, support, and administrative set-up in Bermuda leaned toward the two traditional industries, and "there has been some degree of frustration among people starting new businesses.'' Opportunities in agriculture, fishing, and hosting of international tournaments and conferences were among those the report would highlight. A Bermudian container ship port was considered but rejected as potentially damaging to tourism, Mr. Collis said.

"We will probably recommend some sort of body, like a development agency, to review proposals for new ventures with a view to seeing whether they should be supported or encouraged by Government.'' Mr. Collis said he was referring to non-financial Government support.