The Bermudian Publishing Company announced yesterday it will cut publication of its namesake 'The Bermudian' magazine from 12 issues a year to four in 2006 and will be making two of the company's four jobs redundant.

The company will also print its publications overseas and relocate to an office outside of Hamilton, all in a bid to cut costs.

Publisher and editor Tina Stevenson said the changes were the result of "difficult, but necessary business decisions".

The company declined to say which posts were being cut, and said Bermudian Business will continue to publish six times a year.

"The cost of production and running a small business in Bermuda continues to grow and so we have had to look at how we can operate more efficiently so that we can continue," she said.

From October, 'The Bermudian' magazine will be printed in the US, a move that will reportedly shave approximately 61 percent off what the company has been paying locally in printing costs.

'The Bermudian', to date, has been printed by Bermuda Press Ltd.. a sister company of The Royal Gazette. The company also had office space in the Bermuda Press building.

The next issue of the 'The Bermudian' will be the September/October issue, an issue commemorating the magazine's 75th anniversary, and it will not print again until the spring of 2006.

The Bermudian Market Digest will cease publication immediately and the Bermudian Business Directory will cease publication in 2006.

"I would like to extend my gratitude to our loyal staff and the Bermuda Press, particularly to Paget Wharton, for their superb service over many years," Mrs. Stevenson said.

Mr. Wharton, general manager of Bermuda Press, did not wish to comment on the Bermudian's decision.

Beginning in 2006, the four issues of 'The Bermudian' are likely to centre around the Interior Design awards, the Building Design awards, Best of Bermuda awards and Christmas, the Bermudian said in a press statement.

The Bermudian said the future of its book publishing business was also under consideration. The company said it was not up for sale.