International businesses are wondering of they are really welcome in Bermuda, former Premier Sir John Swan warned lasty night.

And the former leader of the United Bermuda Party said the main issue of the general election was whether Bermuda needed to change direction in order to continue to prosper in the global economy.

Sir John made the comments after current UBP leader Michael Dunkley spoke at a Sandys Rotary Club dinner last night. He said he was concerned that Bermudians were avoiding the real issue this election.

"The real issue is will Bermuda survive the next 50 years in a world wide economy as the Bermuda we know," he said. "We are sending out a message that we are not really sure if we want to be in business or not. I see places like New York, London, Ireland, Singapore and Cayman and they want to take the businesses from us.

"I think there is a sense out there inBermuda not spoken publicly by the international businesses because they are afraid to but they are wondering if they are really welcome in this country.

"We need to look after our people but what if there is nothing left to look after for them?

"Everything else we have been talking about education, housing, health care; we have been talking about that for 20 years.

"There is a certain threat to Bermuda.

"We are the product of capital, when these businesses are in trouble we are in trouble. They account for 80 percent of our GDP.

"We need to change direction and the people who come to Bermuda need to feel comfortable and welcome.

"We need to get away from race, race, race.

"Yes Bermudians should be treated right but if we invite someone here they need to be treated cordially and white Bermudians treated like they are Bermudians.

"This election is a big one and on an international level.

"We can talk about hotels all we want but I haven't seen one hotel open, all I see is them closing. Right now we have five hotel developments on the agenda but we haven't seen any in black and white.

"We are in a lot more trouble than we think. We are like the sub-prime mortgages. It all looks fine until something goes wrong.

Mr. Dunkley said he couldn't have put it any better and likened the current climate in the international business community to the tourism community in 1980s.

"Many are skittish about their future here," he said.