how the growing new electronic world will affect everyday life, writes Mairi Mallon .

A programme celebrating Bermuda as a centre for e-commerce is to be beamed live across the Caribbean.

The six part series will go out on ZBM, and will be produced locally and feature local businesses.

The show hopes to explain what e-commerce is and how it will affect the Island and its future.

"There is some confusion as to what e-commerce is and what impact it will have on our economy, jobs and business,'' said Bill Storie, who is one of the presenters on the show.

"And that impact will be very significant. We are well placed to become a global leader in e-commerce and therefore the economic impact will be heavy and will affect everybody's lives.'' The programme will look not only at the impact that the flourishing trade will have locally, but also look at the changing face of international trade.

Minister of Telecommunications and E-Commerce Renee Webb is expected to join in the live discussion panels.

The shows, which are being made in conjunction with the Bermuda Broadcasting Corporation, will be beamed by satellite to fifteen separate countries through the Caribbean Broadcasting Union.

Here they will get the chance to see what stage Bermuda is at in becoming a centre for the new business. The programme, using the slogan `E is for everybody', will explain how many problems with buying over the internet have improved.

"The security issues of buying over the internet have been substantially resolved in the two years. Technology has advanced rapidly to allay their concerns so that buying on-line with a credit card is no different from giving your credit card number over the telephone,'' said Mr. Storie.

Mr. Storie said that e-commerce is not only important for business, but means that Bermudians can have access to goods that they never dreamed of before.

Explaining e-commerce: Technology consultant Bill Storie.