The man at the helm of the Big Apple during the 2001 terrorist attacks yesterday called Bermuda "a haven" during New York's time of need.

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was on the Island yesterday as a guest of the World Insurance Forum which has been taking place this week at the Fairmont Southampton.

Speaking to hundreds of insurance executives gathered for his lunchtime speech, Mr. Giuliani said that his thoughts immediately after the 9/11 attacks were to guard against further attacks, and the safety of the city.

But he said it did not take long for thoughts to turn to insurance, and praised the Island's insurance sector for its quick response in paying millions of dollars in claims after the tragedy. "By the second day we had to address ourselves to the insurance issue," he said, adding that insurers had played a "very significant role and continue to."

Indeed, Mr. Giuliani called the Island's insurance sector "a haven after 9/11.

He also shot down the Bermuda-bashing rhetoric that has come from US presidential hopeful, Democrat Senator John Kerry, who has said along the campaign trail that he would, if elected, take measures against companies that have inverted their place of incorporation offshore, like Bermuda, for tax reasons. But he had only glowing words for current US President Bush, giving him credit for being, "in a limited amount of time ...remarkably successful.

While on the Island, Mr. Giuliani also met with a select group of up to 40 top insurance executives at an invitation-only private dinner. Although held at an undisclosed location, word had it yesterday that the group met Tuesday evening on a private island.

That closed dinner meeting between the insurance industry elite and Mr. Giuliani was said by WIF organisers to be the first major meeting between the former mayor and the sector since 9/11.

Although Mr. Giuliani is a lawyer, and not directly involved in the insurance sector, he and the industry must have had much to talk about with insurers playing a key role in helping New York get back on its feet after the attacks.