Business leaders yesterday voted Bermuda's information seminars in New York to be a big success in explaining how the Island operates.

Premier Alex Scott and Finance Minister Paula Cox joined Bermuda International Business Association for three talks to high powered business figures at the luxury St. Regis Hotel.

The seminars covered Bermuda's role in hedge funds, securitisation and trusts.

Bermuda Monetary Authority chief executive Cheryl Ann Lister, Government's e-commerce consultant Nigel Hickson and members of local law and accounting firms were among those on the panels.

Afterwards, Jack Miller of General Motors Asset Management told The Royal Gazette: "I thought they did an excellent job in the accessibility of senior figures, their openness, and their straightforwardness, which was very good.

"They were very knowledgeable and positive and proud of what they have created. I don't have a deep knowledge of Bermuda so for me it was a good educational opportunity."

When asked if the public relations blitz might change the minds of politicians hostile to Bermuda such as US Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, he said: "It's good to be pro-active, but its hard to say. It is difficult to judge what our politicians will do."

Wayne Schob of Bank of New York Alternative Investment Schemes, a hedge fund service provider, said: "Absolutely it was good. It was good to get face to face interaction and really meet the players and regulatory figures and really see how the new promulgations will be imposed in terms of registered hedge fund managers and how this will interact with the SEC.

"It was also good to meet competing fund administrators and get their feelings about funds being serviced in Bermuda and to know about the political and economic climate."

Michael Paradise, a hedge fund and securities attorney in New York, said: "My impression is that Bermuda is at the forefront.

"One consideration when we started out in offshore funds in 1996 was we were concerned about pedigree. There are lots of rocks out there and we were guided towards Bermuda.

"I am very happy and pleased with the professionalism and the fact that it is an advanced country when it comes to finance, and many times is more advanced than the US.

"Many people that place money in hedge funds take comfort from the fact that Bermuda is part of the UK."

Peter Ward of law firm Charbourne and Parke -- which has offices in New York, London, Washington, Los Angeles, Moscow, Beijing and Warsaw - said he had a long-term business relationship with Bermuda and did not consider it to have a questionable reputation.

"I was in Jersey and Cayman, and they may have worries about their reputations, but I always thought of Bermuda as squeaky clean," he said.

"I have always thought Bermuda was the cleanest of the offshore jurisdictions, but the criticism from Kerry about US companies fleeing is just making political hay."

A member of one of the world's biggest investment banks, who asked not to use his name or the name of his company, said after the sessions: "It was informative, and Bermuda clearly strove to be ahead of the curve.

"I think we would really like to see Bermuda take a leadership role when it comes to the problems of the industry."