Sir John Swan is up to the UBP's old scare tactics, according to a PLP candidate and a UBP defector.

Government race relations consultant Rolfe Commissiong and retiring former UBP MP Jamahl Simmons said comments made by Sir John — warning that international businesses do not feel welcome on the Island — was a continuation of scare tactics that predate the 1998 election.

"I think Sir John is singing the same old song," Mr. Commissiong said. "It is rather pernicious of him. He is rehashing the age old scare tactic with his comments about international business in Bermuda. We have heard it during the last two elections, that international business would suffer, but it has not.

"One of the UK's largest companies, Invesco, has just announced they are moving to Bermuda. These companies do their homework they know the social and political climate of Bermuda.

"They feel the advantages of doing business in Bermuda far outweighs the costs of doing business in Bermuda."

Mr. Commissiong also pointed out that Bradley Kading, president of Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers played down concerns about the level of unhappiness among Bermuda's international business community in October.

Mr. Kading said: "It's been a good place from which to conduct business. We regularly work with the Government to ensure that it remains a good place to conduct business."

But this week The Royal Gazette reported excerpts from a UK National Audit Office report commissioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The report mentioned that Bermuda had become "less attractive" due to the high cost of living and restrictions work permits and said "sustained efforts" would be needed to ensure Bermuda "maintains its positive international reputation".

Mr. Simmons, who is the outgoing representative for Pembroke West and currently a PLP supporter, said Sir John's statements were "typical of their pathological dependence on fear and distrust rather than hope and honesty".

He added: "In the 1998 election, the UBP used fear and distrust in an effort to sway voters away from the PLP, claiming that the lights would go out on international business if the (PLP) party was to be elected. That was a lie.

"In 2002 and 2003, we were told that the Bermuda dollar could be devalued and that international business would flee if we became members of Caricom. That was a lie.

"A lie that as a member of the UBP, I swallowed and with reservations helped promote."