Government Senate leader David Burch hit out at doom and gloom merchants who he accused of trying to destroy the country yesterday.

Former Premier Sir John Swan came under fire as Sen. Burch claimed negative press was damaging the Island's reputation abroad.

And Senator Burch said he was seeking a meeting with Flagstone Re boss Mark Byrne who this week in The Royal Gazette called on Government to make international business feel welcome. Mr. Byrne added that revising the six-year term limits would go some way to tackling the issue.

Sen. Burch said he had not read the article yet and that the mantra that Government was unfriendly to business puzzled him. "I have a question to people who repeat that, to what end? Why would the Government do that?"

He said everyone in Bermuda wanted the best for the Island. However he then said there was a "campaign to destroy this Country just because 'I am not in charge'.

That's what it is - and I am not even sure they recognize it - aided and abetted by the media.

"Why do I say that, because domestic petty politics that we participate in has little effect in my view on most businesses, it has little effect on most people.

"But the headlines are beamed around the globe, so people who don't know about our politics accept it and take it at face value."

He said people would think Bermuda was not open for business and Bermuda was not welcoming.

"Nothing could be further from the truth." Sen. Burch said the facts showed international business had made more money than ever before under the PLP."

Turning on Sir John Swan he said: "It is really disheartening for someone who served longer than any other and had more power to effect change. Now they whine, whine, whine.

"Look at the evidence at the end of Front Street - they haven't stopped building that building that's going to be a monstrosity. It is still going like gangbusters.

"If you are so concerned and the sky is going to fall, why do you spend your money, preparing for a future that you say that if it is up to the PLP we will be planting potatoes and fishing?

"You are not in charge and at the rate you are going you are never going to be charge. You really need to get over it."

And he said the media's plan to undermine the PLP was failing.

"You sit around the table and say we should hold hands and sing kumbaya and whilst you have one hand you have a knife in the other. It can't work."

Also in the motion to adjourn general debate Junior Tourism Minister Marc Bean hit out at criticism of tourism figures.

He said the $500,000 spent on the New York Mets promotion equated to $400 per visitor. "Who is complaining when that person comes and spends $1,500 or $2000? Nobody."

He said Bermuda's niche was high end visitors. Opposition Senator Michael Fahy expressed fears about Flatt's being used as a race track while independent Joan Dillas-Wright expressed concern over drivers who used cell phones.

UBP Senator Jeanne Atherden said she hoped wider consultation would be the theme fo 2009 with more people stepping forward to serve on boards.