someone or keep an important secret is Brussels.

It doesn't matter where you hail from, if you're doing something you shouldn't be in the Belgian capital, then expect to be caught.

The reason is that more than 200 private investigators from Asia, America, Europe, the Pacific Rim and the United Kingdom are gathering there this week for the annual conference of the World Association of Detectives.

Even Bermudians aren't safe from the prying eyes of some of the world's most talented snoops.

Bermuda is represented at the six day conference by Island Wide Security president Mr. William Black, who said the event is expected to be one of the largest in the Association's history.

"Brussels is not where you want to be this week if you're trying to keep a low profile,'' joked Mr. Black.

The organisation represents more than 800 top detective agencies in 47 countries and is the largest organisation of its kind in the world.

Its principal aims are to promote and maintain the highest ethical practices among private detectives, investigation and security services.

*** Most people are sick to death of hearing about the recession by now, but one of the curious side-effects of these economically hard times is the growing number of small businesses starting up.

Now it would not be unreasonable to think that nobody in their right mind would dream of going into business at the moment since nobody seems to have much money to spare, apart from the banks, that is.

Yet, oddly, the converse is true, according to Mr. David Hills, who runs Small Business Advisors Ltd, a private company offering financial services and business acumen to the small businessman.

"People are being laid off all over the place and, in an economy such as this where people are not hiring a great deal, where do you work?,'' said Mr.

Hills.

"Often the only option is to set up your own business using the skill that you have.'' And there are quite a few openings as people all over the Island look to save every cent they can on jobs they need doing.

"More often than not a one man gang can do a job cheaper than a big office with overheads,'' said Mr. Hills.

"People now want to get value for money from whoever is providing a service.

Sometimes the person who is small is keener to do a good job to keep your business.'' He added: "Even in a recession there are lots of opportunities for niche markets and for people to provide a high quality service in whatever field they're in.

"Some people would argue that there are more opportunities than there are during economically good times.'' But he warned anyone attempting to set up a new business: "Look before you leap. Otherwise the whole thing could turn into a costly disaster.'' *** On the subject of disasters, but on a much larger scale, officers of some of Bermuda's top reinsurers were running around last week trying to assess the early damage from Hurricane Andrew as it rampaged through Florida and Louisiana.

They're likely to lose millions of dollars in claims in what is expected to be the costliest calamity in US history.

Preliminary estimates of Andrew's damage go up as high as $20 billion, which would make it three times as costly as Hurricane Hugo, which devastated North Carolina in 1989.

The worst five US calamities and their cost are: 1989 -- Hurricane Hugo, $6.9 billion.

1989 -- San Francisco Bay Area earthquake, $5.9 billion.

1906 -- San Francisco earthquake, $5.1 billion (1991 dollars).

1972 -- Tropical Storm Agnes, $4.7 billion (1991 dollars).

1986 -- Southeastern states drought, $3 billion.