Senior international business executives have pledged to "get in the boat and row'' for Jennifer Smith's new Bermuda.

But they have one watchword for the PLP Government, urging them not to squeeze out expatriate workers.

David Ezekiel, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce's International Companies Division, said Bermuda's business community had welcomed the Island's new leaders with open arms.

He said Bermudians should not feel that international business worked against their interests.

And he is already contacting Finance Minister Eugene Cox and Immigration Minister Paula Cox to discuss tactics.

One of Mr. Ezekiel's plans is to tour Bermuda to speak about the needs of international businesses and explain their operations.

"We have got a new captain,'' he said. "It's a case of: `Give me the oar and let's all start rowing together'.

"Tell us what we need to do to take this boat forward.'' He said international firms were not about to quit their offices to head to other offshore domiciles like the Cayman Islands.

In an exclusive interview with The Royal Gazette , he said senior executives were satisfied with PLP assurances that Bermuda's tax structure and business community would not change.

But he said international companies still had one word of caution -- and were watching for tightened immigration restrictions.

Mr. Ezekiel, who holds Bermuda status, added: "Job opportunities for expatriate workers will certainly be one area where everyone will sit and watch very closely what happens.

"Expatriate workers are a key factor. First of all, we are operating in a global environment where competition isn't on the Island.

"Our competition is the other domiciles and other major companies in the US, UK and Europe. In today's challenging environment, we need to attract the sort of skills that can leave you competitive and for a certain group, you need to be able to offer them a career.

Business in work permits warning "Telling someone who might want to come down here that they have a limited life at the outside in terms of staying on the Island might be appropriate for a certain level of employee.

"But it's just not appropriate for the more senior levels where we are competing for some very scarce talent and where people are not prepared to make a move career-wise which could be just arbitrarily cut short.'' Mr. Ezekiel said he met with Ms Smith three weeks ago, when she gave "solid reassurances'' to the international business community on tax and finance policies.

He added: "Ms Smith was totally understanding -- but clearly had some concerns in the area of immigration, which we have to address.

"She made that clear. And it's clear to us that we need to do a lot more work, and we have in terms of talking to Government. But in terms of getting our message across to the general population, we need to do more.'' Mr. Ezekiel wrote to both Ms Cox and Mr. Cox yesterday to invite the new ministers to meetings with international business leaders.

He added: "It is our intention to work as diligently and closely with the new Government as we did with the previous one and we are as prepared as ever to assist to the fullest extent.

"We continue to believe that Bermuda has the brightest of futures as both a tourist destination and a business domicile, and are confident that our combined efforts will continue to benefit all Bermudians and residents of this Island.''