The Chamber of Commerce has warned that new transport laws could send the wrong message to International Businesses.

Last week Premier Dr. Ewart Brown announced that a slew of new transport initiatives to reduce congestion on the Island’s roads. These included curbing the number of single and childless foreigners owning cars and limiting the amount of cars available to expatriates in companies holding more than ten work permits.

Yesterday Chamber of Commerce executive vice president, Diane Gordon, said: “The membership is concerned at the proposals stated and in particular limiting car ownership by certain categories of workers as this appears to be sending the wrong message to our International Businesses, all of whom we support and any impact incurred on them will have very serious results on local businesses — a large percentage of those businesses being Chamber members.

“International business remains the life blood of Bermuda and we need to work with our partners to ensure the continuing success of our Island.

“We do not wish to divide our guest workers who live here nor do we wish to present the wrong message for those recruiting to our Island.

Mrs. Gordon said the Chamber recognised and supported the need to address congestion problems on the Island.

She said: ‘We look forward to working with the Government and all of our other industry partners in addressing the concerns expressed.”

The Chamber has more than 800 members.

Last week when the Premier announced the raft of changes he said he was still in talks with businesses about the details.

He added: “But it will be done by a formula that will give the business a certain number of cars and they will work out the distribution in-house.”

“We don’t think we are being punitive at all. We think Bermuda provides an environment for expatriate workers like no other. We think we are extremely friendly and extremely flexible to guest workers.”

Transportation figures for 2006 stated that there are 21,978 private cars and 19, 087 motorcycles in Bermuda.