Government's decision to become an associated member of Caricom (Caribbean Community and Common Market) will be the first major challenge to new Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA) director Richard Calderon.

Less than a month into his new appointment, Mr. Calderon - who recently left his post as director of Tourism - and BIBA's new Marketing Manager Aaron Adderley spoke with The Royal Gazette recently about their role in representing the Island's international business concerns.

On the Caricom issue, Mr. Calderon said they had listened to what the Premier said last week and said: "Its being discussed by the executives and members of BIBA and if it is good for the country then obviously people would support it. But right now we are just really taking a hard look at what was said, what this actually means to International Business and BIBA members."

As far as BIBA's mandate, Mr. Calderon said the organisation has two functions, to create awareness overseas about Bermuda as the preeminent jurisdiction to do business and to create a better connection with the average person in Bermuda as to what International Business means to their lives, what it does in terms of generation of revenue for the Government and how that money trickles down to the average person in the street.

BIBA is largely a consultative organisation and Mr. Calderon said they work closely with the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) and the Ministry of Finance to ensure the private sector's voice is being heard in respect to new legislation or amendments to an act.

"And I think at the end of the day it has worked, because Bermuda is a well regulated jurisdiction but it also is somewhat flexible and allows for innovation," said Mr. Calderon.

He said Bermuda's position as a world class place in which to do business had been tested recently by the KPMG report and the OECD and said of the recently passed Patriots Act in the U.S.: "Of course this will require additional compliance and it is very complex stuff but of course the Government and the private sector are always putting their heads together in terms of what that means to Bermuda and it is really BIBA's role to work in concert with Government to ensure that Bermuda maintains its position complying with all the international requirements, to the degree that is necessary."

Mr. Adderley said: "We see BIBA as being a facilitative group. If anything we are the glue that brings everyone together and enables people who are experts within their particular fields to provide commentary and insight on what Bermuda should do as jurisdiction from a legislative standpoint from any other stand point for that matter.

M. Calderon said he aims to establish close links with both local and foreign media, saying: "It's one on one's with the press, establishing new ties, but also strengthening old ties. At the end of the day it is keeping Bermuda's message current."

And BIBA will feature highly at an upcoming conference in London in January when Premier Jennifer Smith, Finance Minister Eugene Cox, Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb, Jeremy Cox from the Registrar of Companies, and Chairman of BIBA Raymond Medeiros illustrate the benefits of Bermuda's business environment.

The Commission for Unity and Racial Equality (CURE) legislation was before Mr. Calderon's appointment but he said: "Based on what we know from reading the file obviously BIBA had a great deal of involvement but again on a consultative basis, testing the document, getting the ear of the Minister before it became a piece of legislation.

"Obviously we wanted to reflect the business position and how it would impact their operations but from what I understand thus far all is working well and BIBA members are accepting the legislation as a piece of legislation that is with them forever."

And he said for most businesses it was: "business as usual."

Speaking on how a recession would affect the Island, Mr. Calderon said: "I think really at the end of the day it is the fiscal policies of the Government that most people are concerned about, but they (Government) have articulated exactly the steps they think should be the right steps to ensure that Bermuda is moving along the right path in what appears to be awkwardly tough economic times."