Premier Jennifer Smith yesterday urged local retailers to reinvent themselves to stay afloat in 2000 and beyond.

Speaking at the Bermuda Employers Council annual general meeting yesterday, Ms. Smith also declared that the needs of the embattled retail sector "have captured Government's attention'' and indicated the next Budget may be addressing some of them.

She pledged that Government, as stated in its 1998 election platform, would look at a six-month extension for Customs duties to help small business improve their cash flow.

And it would also consider allowances to small and medium sized businesses for investment in physical plant and machinery.

"However,'' she added, "I must caution that as Government, we are charged with striking the correct balance to achieve what is right for all Bermudian.

"Government certainly does not have the cure for every problem.

"And I am sure that the retail sector is well aware that all of the sector's problems will not be solved by tax relief, or other financial measures.'' The Premier had this advice for retailers: "Like many other areas of economic activity have discovered, the time is ripe for the retail sector to reinvent itself.

"Clearly the shopper of the future will have many more choices and therefore be much more discerning.

"Retailers are therefore challenged to find alternative ways to lure shoppers back into their stores.'' Working at forging new partnerships between organisations and groups that have traditionally been at odds, the Premier called on the BEC to form new alliances with the local unions.

"We have forged relationships, which had hitherto been rooted in mistrust,'' she said.

"We have been a part of the bringing together of parties that in the past would not even consider being in the same room.'' Premier hints at help for retailers Recalling the November 9 celebration jointly hosted by the Bermuda Industrial Union and the Hotel Employers of Bermuda, Ms Smith said: "I look forward to the possibility of a similar event, for some just cause, hosted by the Employers Council of Bermuda and the Union.'' The Premier stressed that "the partnership between labour and management; employers and employees; is the fibre of true harmony of life in the Bermudian workplace'' and she urged the BEC to support initiatives which promote training, re-training and hiring of qualified Bermudians.

Noting that such practices will lead to "an increasingly viable Bermudian workforce'' Ms Smith said: "Such a partnership would be certain to provide a bright future for the community.'' In her address, the Premier also heaped praise on the BEC for what she called "a bold declaration of the high standards which the Employers Council has set for local employers''.

"Much of the progress made in the area of labour relations in Bermuda can be attributed to those occasions when both management and labour have worked together for the common good,'' she said.

"In such instances, their achievements have been in the best interests of Bermuda as a whole and not simply the interests of any one side.'' Pledging to continue to work toward a more equitable state of affairs for the community Ms Smith said: "we shall continue to work in partnership with everyone to provide an economic climate that encourages stable levels of growth and employment, a vibrant and thriving tourism industry, a healthy and competitive retail sector and a robust and innovative local business arena.''