Bermuda has traditionally given generously to the people of other countries when natural disasters have struck, but the response to the Haiti earthquake has been overwhelming.

That this should be so is understandable. Haiti is broadly a part of the same region as Bermuda, and shares some cultural and historic ties. It was only a few months ago that Haitain "fugee" Wyclef Jean was the highlight of the Bermuda Music Festival.

But the sheer scale of the devastation, compounded by the depths of poverty already in place in Haiti have also brought out the best in Bermuda's people.

To some degree, the public was already primed to help as a result of Bermudians, including Philip Rego and members of local churches, assisting the country in the past.

The current outpouring of assistance is commendable, and will help in the current crisis.

It is worth noting too that the Caribbean Catastrophe Insurance Fund, which was the brainchild of former Premier Alex Scott, has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency financial aid to the country.

But thought also needs to be given to how Haiti can be helped and developed in the long term. Even before the earthquake, it was the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with degraded infrastructure, poor services, a marginal economy and an unstable political situation.

The earthquake's damage was both exacerbated by that problem and has set the country even further back.

But there is opportunity within the challenge to rebuild Port au Prince and the surrounding area in such a way that it is less vulnerable to future disasters, of which it has had its fair share.

It is here, as part of Caricom and through its ties with the UK and the US, that Bermuda can also play a role, in helping to map out a long term recovery plan for this benighted country.

As one of the wealthiest countries in the world, Bermuda should do its part, and its part does not end when the TV cameras leave.

Hard lessons of a rookie year

Those who — including this newspaper -have warned over the last few years that Bermuda is becoming less attractive to international business have constantly been branded as scaremongers and worse.

But the report by Dowling & Partners Securities LLC published last week deserves attention. Dowling is a respected investment advisor that also published IBNR, perhaps the most influential and informed newsletter on the insurance industry in the world.

So Dowling's warnings that Bermuda is becoming a less attractive domicile and that those companies that are here have a redomiciling plan in place are well founded and serious. Dowling has no axe to grind and no interest in promoting other jurisdictions.

Aside from external issues like tax and increased international regulatory scrutiny, internal factors include the high costs and strain on infrastructure, difficulties attracting top talent and work permit restrictions, worries over Independence and the rise in violence.

It goes without saying that Bermuda depends on international business. Without it, or if it was significantly weakened, Bermuda's problems would grow exponentially. When companies like Dowling start issuing warnings, it is time to pay attention.