Chamber of Commerce president Philip Barnett has distanced himself from his comments that Government appears ready to reconsider its controversial work permit term limits policy.

The Royal Gazette stands by its article on Tuesday, in which Mr. Barnett offered his reaction to the Island's falling Consumer Confidence Index — but Mr. Barnett yesterday issued an apparently angry retraction.

During his interview with this newspaper, Mr. Barnett said Bermuda needed to protect consumer confidence "in its own back yard" and raised the subject of term limits, which he described as being a great concern to most business people.

However, in yesterday's retraction, the Commerce stated: "President Philip Barnett NEVER stated Government should reconsider the terms limit policy based on low consumer confidence as is seemingly characterised in the article.

"Term limits and consumer confidence are NOT related in the opinion of the Chamber."

During his interview, Mr. Barnett told this newspaper the business community's fears had been put to Government and added: "I do think that the message is getting through to Government. They do appreciate that policies set up for all the best reasons may not be the best going forward."

However, in yesterday's retraction, the Chamber stated: "The President hasn't the slightest bit of knowledge that Government is reconsidering the current terms limit policy."

A few hours after The Royal Gazette published his comments, Mr. Barnett sent an e-mail to editor Bill Zuill, copied to the Premier's Press Secretary Glenn Jones, in which Mr. Barnett said: "For the article to also suggest that little old me would have any knowledge of what Government might be thinking or considering is just plain wrong and potentially mischievous."

The Royal Gazette had contacted Mr. Jones several hours before going to print explaining that Mr. Barnett was optimistic Ministers would take on board his concerns over term limits. We invited a response from the Premier but, so far, Mr. Jones has not replied to us.