hiring and promotion practices, Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan said yesterday.

Speaking to the annual general meeting of the Bermuda Employers' Council, Sir John said he was encouraged by the fact that more and more employers were admitting they made mistakes in the past.

Not long ago, the term "glass ceiling'' was "foreign'' to many employers.

They "did things on a cultural basis,'' because that was how they were always done, and that was what they were comfortable with, the Premier said at the Hamilton Princess. From now on, "we've got to prick ourselves and give ourselves a certain level of discomfort,'' he said.

A new attitude was emerging as employers tried to make Bermuda a place everyone could enjoy, and "I'm excited about our future,'' he said.

Sir John said that when he became Premier 12 years ago, only "two or three blacks'' attended business meetings that he addressed.

At yesterday's luncheon in the Tiara Room, he was impressed by "the mosaic of colours'' he saw. "There has been a fundamental change.'' In his upbeat speech, Sir John said that although the impending closure of the US Naval Air Station posed Bermuda's "most formidable challenge,'' he had never been more excited about the Island's prospects.

"Our biggest job will be staying ahead when there is nobody really setting the pace for us,'' he said.

Bermuda was like the lead runner in a race, facing extra difficulties by breaking the breeze for those who were trailing, he said.

The return of about ten percent of Bermuda's land mass was a challenge, but Bermuda would not be playing catch-up, he said. The Island had improved its roads, housing, health care, and technology, emerging as "a sophisticated computer society.'' Only one obstacle remained. "When all people work together, share together, and understand what are the objectives, then I believe a country or corporation can make a quantum leap.'' Bermuda could not sit back and rely on individual business, but had to develop all its skills, he said.