Building on the hard work of the Chamber of Commerce and getting members actively involved in that process will be the mission of new president Stephen Todd.

Mr. Todd, who is the Chamber's first black president in its 102-year history, is also relishing the challenge of helping Bermuda's business community to overcome the current global economic crisis.

He officially took over from outgoing president Philip Barnett in a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce office in Hamilton yesterday.

Meanwhile Mr. Barnett said he hoped his legacy would be ensuring that business was not just limited to a group of beneficiaries and the wider commercial community was represented, both through inclusion in the Chamber's divisions and its outreach to new members in order to make sure their voices are heard.

He said the highlights of his time in office were continuing the dialogue with Government over its policies, admitting that he was probably more in conflict than in partnership with Government at the beginning of his tenure, but now, as a result, it was for the better for business on the Island.

"It is all about Bermudians being able to achieve what they personally want as well as in business," he said.

Mr. Barnett said that today's financial turmoil was having a big impact on Bermuda, as borne out by the latest tourist figures, with all businesses suffering a slow start to the year, as most were down on trade by at least 20 percent and some by even 40 to 50 percent.

But he said there were some positives to come out of his time at the helm, including the work permit issue being the best it had been in his recollection, while he commended Immigration Minister David Burch for the work he had done on that front and his appreciation of the importance of overseas workers to the country's economy.

"The only way that we are going to move forward is by pulling with the same stroke in the same direction," he said.

"I think it is key that our dialogues continue and the end result is going to be that Bermuda is going to be a better place."

Mr. Todd admitted that he was stepping into his new role at a tough economic time, but said that he had never shirked a challenge. Rather he saw this as an opportunity to serve the business community and give something back for the help he had received from it in the past.

"I feel I am filling some very big shoes in terms of the work Philip has put in, along with the support from other Chamber members," he said.

"I believe it is a challenge and I look forward to it."

He planned to tap into his background, such as in the banking industry, as vice-president and retail business development manager at Butterfield Bank, along with his good relationship with Government, as well as pooling the resources of his team at the Chamber together, to work co-operatively with other organisations going forward in the future.

"I believe that if you put the work in, the results will come," he said.

"This is a really a time to step back, reassess our particular operations and to determine the way forward — I think it is really the time to effect some positive change and we are very well supported in that."