predictions are that 6,000 more jobs than Bermudian workers will be created in the next ten years if current economic trends continue.

By implication, this should mean 6,000 more non-Bermudians, plus their families, coming to the Island.

There are already concerns that the Island's infrastructure is unable to cope with current numbers, so some difficult choices lie ahead over population.

Neither politicians, the business community nor environmentalists are willing to play the numbers game and place a limit on how many more bodies the Island can comfortably absorb. The problem, they agree, is too complicated and inter-related to other issues to boil down to an easy number.

Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson says Bermuda can take more people -- but not without the quality of life diminishing -- and he admits that although Government is committed to sustainable development, it does not have a fixed upper limit on population.

He favours international business because it is environmentally-friendly, is not labour-intensive and creates high-quality, high-paying jobs.

For this reason, Government is keen on developing e-commence. (Mr. Hodgson will explain his views more fully in an extensive interview tomorrow) Environmentalist Stuart Hodgson, the author of Bermuda's Delicate Balance , said the long-term goal must be to gradually reduce population. One way would be to discourage unwanted teenage pregnancies.

When asked whether Bermuda's sophisticated standard of living would be maintained if, say, the population declined by 20,000, he said: "Probably not, but I wouldn't advocate getting rid of 20,000 people.'' He would like to see the economy getting incrementally smaller. "If we are to be sustainable, the kind of industry and economy we have here would be tailored to the population we could sustain, ie, smaller. Or bigger with smaller living styles, smaller spaces.

"We could have less wasteful lifestyles. The number of people and the amount they consume is growing. If we want to change the result of these engines (growth and consumption) we have to change one or other or both.'' When asked if he would advocate putting a brake on business growth, he said: "That would be a very visible step, but I don't think that's the solution.

"(And) To halt buildings halts possibilities for the coming generation of Bermudians to have a house or start a business, so that's not an answer when taking a broad look.

"It seems very sane when looked at solely for sanctity of the physical environment, but the spin off for the physical and social environment is not acceptable.'' A solution may emerge if new technology changes the way we do business in the future, he believes.

CHART Bermuda's population: 1900-1990