Government has set up a task force to assess and deal with the impact on Bermuda of recent terror attacks in America.

The team is comprised of three government policy analysts from the Finance, Transport and Works and Engineering Ministries recently trained in the United Kingdom.

The team will be headed by Warren Jones who heads the Central Policy Unit which co-ordinates Government policy.

The task force began work full-time on Monday working out scenarios and how to respond to them.

New policies could then be put on the agenda for the next session of Parliament which starts again in November.

Premier Jennifer Smith said the task force will be directed by top civil servants and would report back to cabinet.

She said: "This move follows those steps already taken to co-ordinate the Government's response to unfolding events, as announced by the Finance Minister last week.

"The formation of this dedicated team is a further sign of Government's continued commitment to ensure that our response is co-ordinated, based on clear analysis and encompasses the views of stakeholders.

"This is time to take stock and to consider how future scenarios might impact on Bermuda and on our way of life. We need to plan ahead for eventualities.

"My recent attendance at the Overseas Territories Consultative Conference provided an opportunity to discuss the impact of events with other Overseas Territories.

"It is clear that we all our facing the same problems. Bermuda shares other Territories concerns that the events of September 11 may have far reaching consequences.

"The country is faced with a rapidly changing situation, and in these times there is the need for clear thinking and forward planning."

She said the Government is in discussions with stakeholders to consider the short and long term implications to build a picture of the challenges.

She added: "We shall make the decisions that need to be made in the best interests of Bermuda's economic health and the welfare of Bermudians."

Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Diane Gordon said: "At this point is difficult to comment about this until we know what it's all about."

Bermuda has already deferred landing fees and waived airport rents for two months to assist ailing airlines and boost flagging tourism following the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

Responding to requests from cash-strapped airlines, Bermuda deferred about $1 million in fees until January 2002 for the four US and two international carriers operating here, and waived office rents at Bermuda International Airport during September and October.