publicity over the past week in business publications on both sides of the Atlantic.

Bermuda International Business Association deputy chairman Mr. Glen Titterton said yesterday that editorials in the Financial Times and the European edition of the Wall Street Journal were boons for the Island's international business sector.

"From BIBA's point of view, we see that Bermuda has received an editorial stamp of approval in major publications in the US, Canda and the UK,'' he said.

"This is recognition that Bermuda is different from other territories and has taken a very sensible approach to the issue (of Independence). They recognised we built our international business by being astute and sensible.

"They see us as having applied the same attributes to this issue.'' He added: "BIBA sees this as a golden marketing opportunity internationally.'' The editorial in the Wall Street Journal said the Bermuda people were among the most free in the world "by virtue of their standard of living, their independence from debt and their ability to attract foreign investment''.

Under the headline, "Happily British'', the Journal talked about how the World Bank "consistently placed Bermuda among the five richest places in the world''.

In mentioning tourism and international business, the business paper noted: "From private and corporate trusts to insurance brokers and hedge funds, Bermuda has become a premier offshore business centre.'' The article praises Bermuda for a tough regulatory stance, differing from that depicted of offshore centres in general.

"Hurricanes may provide an occasional fright, but Bermuda boasts one of the region's stablest political and economic environments.'' Business readers were told of the recent Standard & Poors "Double-A'' rating of the island.

"We can't help thinking,'' the writer opined, "how different little Bermuda's flirt with Independence was from the images of tortured struggles and violence more often conjured up in the context of independence movements these days.'' The article ended: "Perhaps, as some observers noted, Independence would not have meant big change in Bermuda. Still, Bermuda's choice must be seen as both a vote of confidence in British rule and a rejection of the popular tendency to always equates Independence with freedom.'' A national Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, ran an editorial also on Monday with ego-boosting words such as "the highest standards of living'' and "no real crime, full employment and little racial tension.'' There were also other notes under the headline, "Wisdom in Bermuda'', such as, "Its climate, its beauty, its security and its prosperity make Bermuda something of a paradise.'' The Globe and Mail was not so kind to Premier Sir John Swan, calling him "misguided'' for his independence initiative, "intoxicated as he was by the prospect of visiting foreign capitals with guards of honour, red carpets and black limousines with a flag on the hood.'' The Financial Times editorial last Friday, headlined "True Brits'', called the trouncing of the independence effort at the poll "entirely pragmatic''.

But it added: "By splitting his own United Bermuda Party, Sir John has left the door open for the opposition Progressive Labour Party to win power for the first time at the next election''.

"Be that as it may, Bermuda is essentially a very stable little island, and unlikely to do anything too radical to upset its prosperity. The risk of a change of Government should be easy to discount for the insurance brokers. The people of Bermuda are thoroughly pragmatic, as they have just shown.'' The editorial concluded: "If dependent states are determined to remain dependent, they must accept strict policing to keep their houses in order.

Bermuda offers a good example for others to follow.''