broad terms of reference -- examining the investigation and prosecution of all recent serious crimes -- coupled with serious limitations -- the inability to subpoena overseas witnesses -- which could result in it making broad and shallow recommendations which will be of no help to anyone.

It is up to the Commission itself to ensure that it returns a report which has real value.

The Commission was formed largely out of the outrage over the failure to convict anyone for the murder of Rebecca Middleton, and its inability to call witnesses including former Commissioner of Police Colin Coxall, former Attorney General Elliott Mottley and former Chief Inspector Norrell Hull, will hamper its work.

The Commission must hope that these figures will come forward to give evidence voluntarily. They should do so, so that Bermuda can learn from past mistakes.

Based on the Middleton case alone, there should be plenty of learning to go around.

But the Commission must also examine other cases and would be wise to select the worst examples of miscarriages of justice in order to draw real lessons which the Police Service and the Department of Public Prosections can use going forward.

At best, an exhaustive inquiry into how crime can better be investigated and prosecuted should give the people confidence that the criminal justice system will function better in the future.

At worst, the Commission should demonstrate to people like Rebecca Middleton's parents and other victims of unsolved crimes that at least someone in Bermuda cares.

YOUTH CORPS EDT Youth corps Opposition MP Cole Simons is not the first person to call for a national youth commission, and he probably will not be the last.

Among those who have argued for either a commission or a national youth corps are former United Bermuda Party candidate Ted Gauntlett, Progressive Labour Party MP Dale Butler and the PLP itself, which promised to introduce a national youth service in its 1998 election platform.

This newspaper has long supported the Bermuda Regiment, which not only provides a defence role but also provides a social function in bringing together Bermudians from all walks of life to provide a service to the community.

However, random selection of recruits means that some people are required to give three years of part-time service, while other Bermudians are not called upon at all.

A national youth service, with adventure training, teamwork and community service at its heart, would end this inequity while enabling young people to give something back to the community, develop confidence and leadership and cross social barriers.

Mr. Simons' call for a commission which would have a say in determining spending on youth services and in encouraging mentoring, training and civics does not go far enough.

A part-time youth corps would give all young Bermudians a sense of contributing to society while learning something as well.