competitive spirit.

Such action would clear the way for more visitors to shop here unhampered by rules and regulations, it is claimed. And it would allow Bermuda to become a centre for international sporting tournaments.

The call for the Hon. Sir John Swan to strike against bureaucracy comes from his own Commission on Competitveness. It will be a key recommendation in a report by the commission, set up to sharpen Bermuda's competitive edge.

The in-depth report will be handed to Sir John.

Three teams make up the commission. One examining tourism is headed by banker Mr. James Master. Another led by accountant Mr. Richard Butterfield is reviewing the international business sector. And the third team, spearheaded by lawyer Mr. John Collis, is looking at future opportunities.

Mr. Collis said his team would be coming up with long-term ideas for boosting Bermuda's future.

And one proposal was to remove some of the bureaucratic obstacles to shopping in Bermuda.

"We are looking at encouraging shopping in Bermuda by people from overseas,'' Mr. Collis explained. "We need to look at ways we can encourage more spending here by tourists.'' The report may lead to changes in "policies, laws, and practices'' -- although nothing concrete had been agreed.

Mr. Collis said his team had been examining how Bermuda's "taxation structure'' could be made more appealing to visitors.

But this did not necessarily mean tax breaks -- such as customs duty reductions, he added.

Mr. Collis said removing red tape would be crucial to another idea -- to turn Bermuda into a major venue for sporting tournaments.

Ways of "streamlining the whole process'' of laying on international events needed to be reviewed, he added. This could involve easing immigration and customs restrictions.

"We have to try and make Bermuda easier and more conducive for putting on such tournaments,'' said Mr. Collis.

He added: "Such tournaments may not necessarily involve Bermudian participation, and they need not be just for sports. They could be for bridge.'' Mr. Collis said "aqua-culture'' -- such as fish farming -- was another proposal which would be put forward by his team. Such a move could prove to be a money-spinner.

"We need to look at ways in which we can farm some sort of saleable products,'' added Mr. Collis.

Mr. Collis said his team's ideas would be in a report, likely to be finished by late summer or early autumn.

The report would then go to Mr. Mansfield Brock, the commission's co-ordinator and chairman of the steering committee.

Last week Mr. Butterfield said his team was "making progress'' on examining ways of enhancing international business.

A major triumph this year was Parliamentary approval for moves to turn Bermuda into a venue for international arbitration.

The idea had been championed by the Bermuda International Business Association, of which Mr. Butterfield is chairman.

Mr. Butterfield said the move opened up exciting avenues for Bermuda.

And it could pay rich dividends for tourism.

The idea is for other countries to settle labour disputes through arbitration in Bermuda. Hearings would probably be held in hotel conference rooms, said Mr. Butterfield. And he expected parties would bring their own lawyers from abroad.

It would be a tremendous boon for Bermuda to be written into the arbitration clause of contracts, said Mr. Butterfield.

"Once the seed is planted a beautiful tree will grow from it for a long, long time.'' Mr. Butterfield said people coming here for arbitration would be well-heeled.

They would pump money into the economy, staying at hotels and playing golf.

"It's a terrific prospect and a great opportunity as long as we provide top class hospitality. That means, for instance, smiling at our visitors rather than growling.''