A business leader has expressed concern after Premier Ewart Brown announced expats will be made to train their own replacements in order to get work permits.

Under Government's Goodwill Plus initiative, experienced foreign workers will be told the length of their stay on the Island will be fixed, while they must pass on their skills and knowledge to younger Bermudians.

The Premier announced the move — intended to help non-Bermudians into jobs often filled by expats — to Caribbean and American leaders in a speech in Washington, DC, on Wednesday night. For the full speech, see page four of the newspaper, or visit www.theroyalgazette.com.

Chamber of Commerce president Philip Barnett yesterday warned foreign staff may become demotivated if they know their stay in Bermuda is restricted.

He added that local companies could suffer if the Island becomes a less attractive option for expats as their job security decreases.

"We are going to need to hear more, find out exactly what the Premier means," said Mr. Barnett. "I would certainly appreciate the sentiments. But they (expats) are not going to be motivated if they see a ceiling directly above them."

"What happens if this individual has excelled? Are we then saying they are unable to be promoted, or do they have to leave?"

"We ask people to leave their countries, leave everything behind. People do it because they will be secure in their job. Anything we do to take away that security is possibly jeopardising the future success of any company in Bermuda."

On the possibility of talented staff being made to leave, he said: I don't believe that anybody could perceive that of being in anybody's good interests."

The Goodwill Plus programme was one of a string of issues the Premier raised in his speech — as well as Independence, alarming obesity rates and the failing education system — in front of the Inter-American Economic Council featuring Congress members from across the Caribbean.

He described Goodwill Plus as a programme to bring the success of international business "into more Bermudian homes".

When international business comes to our Ministry of Immigration looking for a work permit for Sven from Sweden, we will grant that permit but it will have conditions," he said.

"Attached to Sven's three-year work permit will be young Johnny, a Bermudian who has just graduated from college with a degree in financial services and a hunger for success."

Of course Johnny doesn't have the kind of experience Sven does. But Goodwill Plus will compensate for Johnny's inexperience because in order to get the work permit the CEO has agreed to put a scheme in place that trains Johnny to take over Sven's job when the three-year term is up.

"After three years, Sven goes back to Sweden and Johnny is on his way to a healthy career."

In a statement released yesterday, the Premier said two countries had already expressed an interest in copying the initiative.

He added that Labour and Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess was working on Goodwill Plus and that he would be seeking the opinions of the public.

Mr. Barnett said he had not had "an inkling" about the scheme. "It's the first we have heard about it," he said. "To have it released via a speech in Washington, DC seems a little interesting."

He said: "The most important thing is that we are fully supportive of Bermudians being able to succeed in their own country."

It may be politically expedient to talk about Bermudianisation. The hard facts are it makes better sense to hire Bermudians over anyone else because the costs of bringing expats to Bermuda is extraordinary."

Last night Deputy Opposition Leader Pat Gordon-Pamplin said: "The PLP government steam-rolled to power on the promise to the electorate that they would rid Bermuda of as many work-permit holders as possible. Under their stewardship, the number of guest workers has increased exponentially, while the success of the Bermudian worker, in contrast, has diminished."

Almost ten years ago under the PLP, Sven was already told that to his permit was attached a condition that he train a suitably qualified Bermudian. "Premier Brown has now said that this 'new initiative — Goodwill Plus' which is a new package for an old promise, will be implemented. The question therefore begs, what has the Government done in the last 10 years other than pay lip service to a very real concern?

"Sven is no more at risk than is Sergio who will ultimately replace Sven because our education system has failed Johnny to truly be in the running."

"Before boasting of these new initiatives, perhaps the Premier and the PLP government need a serious reality check. Implement those programmes that presently exist, manage them and we will have no necessity for revised nomenclature.''

Last month, Association of Bermuda International Companies chairman David Ezekiel warned Bermuda-based international companies were outsourcing jobs overseas because the Island's six-year work permit policy was making it difficult to hire expats.

Mr. Burgess said he had seen no evidence of this, and added that the policy could be altered if it became a problem.