Premier Ewart Brown is to meet with international business leaders this week and is prepared to hear more about the strength - or otherwise - of reported comments of corporate unhappiness that is said to have reached the point where some senior executives claim to be reviewing Island exit strategies and opportunities to outsource.

He spoke on the matter at a three-Minister press conference where Labour and Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess presented a softer focus on work permit term limits, stating that an employee who exhausts their nine-year stay (six year limit, plus extensions) does not necessary have to pack their bags if their employer can prove there is no qualified Bermudian able and willing to fill the post.

Premier Dr. Brown went on the record with the media for the first time regarding reports in The Royal Gazette last week about a number of UK reinsurance trade press articles recording disquiet amongst reinsurance leaders about the Island's political climate and work permit problems.

No single CEO or executive has gone "on the record" about the reported sentiments, although London editors Helen Yates and Mark Geoghagen and UK-based journalist Mairi Mallon, along with Bermudian businessman Robin Spencer-Arscott, have said they heard the comments expressed.

However, Ed Noonan who heads Validus Re and was at the infamous Monte Carlo reinsurance gathering last month where the comments were said to have been aired, said in an interview he wondered how much was merely "bar talk."

Dr. Brown said: "The authors who were identified we have put more credence (on their comments). "

Asked if this would be a topic for the forthcoming meeting with international business leaders, he said: "We will deal with anything the businesses want to talk about."

Dr. Brown, expanding on his earlier comment about giving credence to those who had put their name to their words, said: "We do not discount anyone's comments but we can't give anonymous remarks the same weight as those given by someone who is named.

"The idea they did not identify themselves for fear of retribution is not quite reasonable."

The Premier said Government was continuing "contact and conversations" with international business.