appeared to be infringements of the planning regulations by Building Inspector Gerald Tuzo. Since then there have been no obvious changes to Mr. Tuzo's building in Devonshire. Yet, questions posed to the Department of Planning result in nothing but stonewalling.

Bermuda is a place where you frequently hear complaints about the Planning Department, some justified and many simply based on the frustrations of dealing with highly complex rules and regulations which have to be met. Be that as it may, not many people have a high opinion of the way Planning works and there are often complaints that what is allowed one person is not allowed another.

We would have thought that Planning officials would be keen to demonstrate to the public that their own house is in order and that their staff is above suspicion. In the case of Mr. Tuzo they have not done that.

When it was pointed out to Planning Director Brian Rowlinson on Tuesday that, contrary to a Planning order, no railing had been erected on the Devonshire property, Mr. Rowlinson said that he was "not aware'' that Mr. Tuzo had not responded to the order. The point, of course, is that Mr. Rowlinson should be aware, expecially in an instance where there are questions raised about property owned by one of his own building inspectors.

Assistant Planning Director Aideen Ratteray Pryse said that work on the railings will be done now that Mr. Tuzo has secured a contractor. The problem is that doing the work now is not quite the point. Planning does not normally allow properties to be occupied and does not grant an occupancy permit until all the work is done to their satisfaction. Mr. Tuzo's property gives every appearance of being occupied without balcony security railings.

We know of occasions where occupancy permits have been refused by Planning because of very minor omissions and the absence of a balcony security rail would appear to be a major omission. Why then is the building occupied? People perceive that the Department of Planning is engaged on favouritism to one of its own and that is very disturbing. As Shadow Environment Minister Ottiwell Simmons has been quoted as saying: "If there are double standards being used, this is wrong.'' He further said: "Government should do its statutory duty by looking into the matter thoroughly and treating all people the same.'' We would have thought that the Planning Department would be anxious to be right on top of this issue. It requires keeping the public informed of what it is doing and not being in a situation of not being aware. Instead there is a great deal of stonewalling which is suspicious at best.

This matter goes to the core of the Department's image and its integrity.