Crime and safety is one of the most pressing concerns facing Bermuda and its business community, according to the Chamber of Commerce's new president Stephen Todd.

Mr. Todd, who took over the Chamber hotseat at its Annual General Meeting in April, told businessmen at the Hamilton Rotary Club meeting yesterday that the escalation of serious crime was one of the top three issues on his agenda and called on the Police to increase its presence on the streets.

Local businesses were also having to cope with the effects of an "exodus" of companies from the Island, he said, and he also called for a revival plan for the the tourism industry.

Mr. Todd voiced his concern over crime following a series of incidents last month where one man was shot dead and another left seriously injured in a gun attack in Pembroke and a shopkeeper and his son were fired on after a gunman burst into their store in Court Street, as reported in The Royal Gazette.

Mr. Todd added that the gravity of the global recession had been felt by all sectors of the community, with fewer visitors and reduced stays in hotels, falling retails sales, in terms of both local and visitor spending and a drop-off in trade for restaurants.

"We will as part of my role as Chamber president be focusing our attention on several current and long-standing issues and concerns, the most significant of which are as follows," he said.

"The downturn in the economy and the exodus of businesses leaving Bermuda; do we have a plan to revive our tourism product, and is it achievable, and can we revive it again; and crime and safety - this is a major concern with the escalation of serious crime.

"We have been working with the Government and the ministries responsible for several years, and it is our view that we are still not seeing a consistent and heightened police presence that deters this negative behaviour.

"The position of our Chamber is that we would like to see a sustained Police presence on an ongoing basis that is proactive and not reactive to situations."

Mr. Todd said that the Police could not do its job effectively without the help of the community reporting incidents of crime.

He said the Chamber would be focusing on restoring Bermuda's image and reputation as a safe country which welcomes business and people who support it, while visitors should expect to be treated well during their holiday on the Island.

"We are passionate about our country and the direction that we must move in, and this positive change will only come about if we are all committed to achieving the results we wish to see," he said. "Inclusion and positive support must be our focus."

Mr. Todd, who was speaking about the future direction and role of the Chamber said that the business sector was tightening its belt by cutting operating costs, in turn leading to staff redundancies and additional workloads being taken on by those employees remaining.

He said this had a knock-on effect on the way the Chamber worked and meant that it needed to reinvent itself in order to maintain the level of support, guidance and beneficial services which its members and industry sector divisions rely on in the future.

Mr. Todd said the Chamber was keen to expand through proactive recruitment of new members as well as encouraging former member organisations to become active again, while organisations signing up recognised the importance of the Chamber in working with the Government and other associations to serve the interests of its members and the community.

He added that the Chamber had set up a team including its executive board members to develop and introduce a range of interesting social activities and events to provide alternative income sources.

In addition, Mr. Todd said the Chamber had reopened its Visitor's Information Centre (VIC) in the space below its main office in Hamilton, which it shares with the new D'Angelini's Cafe.