farewell banquet hosted by Premier David Saul at the Southampton Princess.

Dr. Saul told a crowd of about 400 people that topics discussed over the three-day session would "help set the agenda and the direction in which member countries will go as the world approaches the millennium with all of its challenges, opportunities, promises and potential''.

He added that it boded well for small countries like Bermuda to have the ties which bound the nations of the Commonwealth strengthened again by the conference. And he said the Commonwealth was a "remarkable mosaic of our family of nations''.

It provided a "shining example'' of how individuals and nations with diverse backgrounds, languages and economic systems could cooperate on issues of mutual interest against a backdrop of tolerance, common ideals and shared principles.

The conference had "underscored the benefits to be derived from nations of like interests working together harmoniously for the common good'', he continued.

Dr. Saul thanked Commonwealth Secretary General Chief Emeka Anyaoku and his colleagues for everything they had done to ensure the success of the conference, adding: "The world is a better place for your efforts.'' He also thanked former Cabinet Secretary Kenneth Richardson and his local staff for all the work they had done.

The conference was chaired by British Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke and Finance Minister Grant Gibbons. It will be held in Mauritius in 1997.

During the conference, ministers discussed a wide range of issues including the world economic situation, debt and money laundering.

In a final communique, the ministers said that while the world economy had grown over the past five years through support from increased integration and world market globalisation, challenges were posed in ensuring parts of the developing world also benefited.

To this end, ministers emphasised the importance of an open, rules-based and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system.

Ministers also agreed to designing and implementing national strategies against money laundering through the establishment of multi-disciplinary national steering groups. Story: Page 33