slashed.

Discussions between the International Companies Division of the Chamber of Commerce and the Immigration Department has led to a number of changes recently.

And it will mean that international trade, which overtook tourism as the Island's biggest source of income, in December, will continue to thrive.

Mr. Adolf Luttke, who is expected to be elected chairman of the division today, explained that they have been trying to remove "unreasonable bureaucracy'' from the process of settling in Bermuda.

Mr. Luttke was speaking after he read a report by retiring chairman Mr. Andrew Carr at the recent annual meeting of the division.

He pointed out that the main changes in the immigration rules involved non-Bermudian management and staff.

It now means that families with more than two children can settle in Bermuda in special cases and the rule that demands non-Bermudians' jobs are advertised has been altered.

Mr. Luttke said that Mr. Carr has been involved in discussions with the Immigration Department throughout the year. He said: "The discussions were aimed at taking a little of the bureaucracy out of the procedure process.'' Mr. Carr had said: "I met with the Minister (the Hon. Irving Pearman) in the hope that international companies could know a little more clearly where they stand on issues concerning non-Bermudians staff.'' Companies often need a quick response to applications for work permits for staff crucial to them settling in Bermuda. And Immigration has told the Chamber that it will tell companies whether applications are expected to be accepted or not, within seven to ten days.

Businessmen who leave the country and return with an expired work permit can re-enter Bermuda while permit is be sent to Immigration as a reminder.

The Department has also agreed that jobs for chief executives of companies need no longer be advertised in the Island, although Mr. Luttke said that this was not strictly regulated in the past.

Mr. Carr said that there would be a relaxation of the rule which immediately excluded prospective members of staff with more than two children.

And he said specialist non-Bermudians would not have to advertise their jobs every three years. Companies who employed, for example, a large number of accountants should advertise the fact that there are accountancy jobs available twice a year in case a qualified Bermudian comes along.