Bermuda's business community yesterday called on Government to give leadership to the country in the face of a massive slump in tourism and retail sales which may result in Island stores opening four days a week.

Chamber of Commerce president Charles Gosling said the country has heard nothing from Government about what it plans to do in Bermuda in the face of the worsening situation following the terrorist attacks in the US.

Since she offered condolences to the victims in the US last Friday, there has been silence from Premier Jennifer Smith about what Government is doing here. Government Information Services (GIS) issued a three sentence statement yesterday about a meeting of the Island's intelligence assessment committee.

The Royal Gazette asked the Premier through GIS on Monday if the House of Assembly will be reconvened, but has heard nothing.

Mr. Gosling said yesterday he supported calls for Government to reconvene Parliament and give Bermuda some kind of leadership in the midst of the crisis.

"We have a Government that has been very sympathetic to the situation in the US and has shown heartfelt sorrow and compassion to victims, which we concur with," he said.

"But at the same time, through their position of leadership, they should be presenting the Island with a sense of vision and belief, and if they don't have a vision today, that they are working to have it tomorrow.

"One of the reasons we are looking at a shorter working week is to express that we do have control over something, as we have not having received any Government vision.

"We are hoping there will become an awareness on Government's part of the fact that they need to start to provide a sense of direction and vision for the future.

"After the meetings with retailers and the sales division, we will be going to Government. We are looking for Government to realise the importance of retail in Bermuda, that it is the largest employer of Bermudians, that we would like the powers-that-be to come out with a message of leadership to say: 'buy Bermudian'.

"They should be saying that rather than going away overseas, people should be spending their money wisely, but spending it in Bermuda.

"We would be looking to see how we can protect the local retail sector and the employee who is an integral part of that."

When asked if he supported calls for Parliament to be recalled, he answered: "Yes. What we have seen is a colossal loss of life that has affected retail, reinsurance and a very quick decimation of the tourist trade, and Government needs to be there, showing it is on top of the situation.

"Leaving party politics aside, they need to be showing they are the leaders and the carers of every Bermudian."

Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons said last night: "We need good leadership and bringing the country together and Government has gone into bunker mode.

"They need to be working not just on what individual assistance might be needed, but also looking at long-term planning listening to every sector of the community because it has been a difficult summer not just for the hospitality sector, but also international business and retail.

"Clearly Bermuda has weathered other storms and we'll get through this one, but it requires clear planning and not jumping to conclusions too quickly."

Asked if he supported calls by colleagues shadow Home Affairs Minister Michael Dunkley and Senator Kim Swan for the House of Assembly to be recalled he said: "I'm not sure what that will do in the short-term.

"We've got a government and I would like to hear from them about what they are proposing to do and hopefully planning."

A senior bank official told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "It is outrageous that we've heard nothing from Government. Political leaders in every other country in the world have been out there reassuring their country that they will pull through, but we have nothing from Government here.

"If they want to stop the economy going into a slump they really must come out and say something positive - consumer confidence is very important."

Last night on a Bermuda Broadcasting special programme on the effect of the crisis in Bermuda, Tourism Minister David Allen hit back at the claims that Government had not been visible.

"The Premier and Cabinet have been out there from day one, the Premier has been on TV making statements and attending vigils," he said.

"There was a statement today (issued through GIS) that the Premier had met the Governor's Council, strong indications of her leadership."He added that the Premier had called a press conference an hour after calling the Emergency Measures Organisation meeting last Tuesday, and that Government ministers are planning this week to meet their shadow ministers to brief them on what is happening.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome had been on television talking about preventing unemployed hotel workers from falling through the net, and Finance Minister Eugene Cox is also planning a media briefing about what Government is doing, he added.