importance but it did elicit a very careful and measured response from Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox.

Ms Cox seems to us to have given the perfect reply when she was quoted as saying, "This fax, to me, is provocative and promotes an atmosphere of tension when we need to be promoting an atmosphere of cooperation.'' Ms Cox was of the opinion that her Ministry would be playing its part in facilitating more open discussion and by showing a commitment to Bermudians worried about unnecessary foreign workers -- while simultaneously not creating a situation where non-Bermudians are seen as "the bad guy''.

Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister said, "The tone of the flyer certainly does not promote the spirit of respect and harmony in Bermuda that this new Government is working to create.'' Therein lies the basic dilemma for the new Government. Many Bermudians have been encouraged over the years to believe that they are badly done by and deprived of jobs and homes by non-Bermudian workers. That was, in fact, not always true. Much of the encouragement was provided by the Progressive Labour Party and its followers. The suggestion clearly was that non-Bermudian workers were "the bad guys'' and that perception will now be very difficult to turn around.

Because of the encouragement handed out so freely, there are Bermudians who believe now that they are due as a right any job for which they apply, qualified or not. The Progressive Labour Party knows that is a situation which will not keep any business happy, international or local. To function and contribute to this very high economy businesses must be able to employ people who can make a constructive contribution rather than people who become a liability. Providing training for suitable candidates is one thing, but providing jobs for people who are unqualified is self-defeating.

It is clear that the new Government's success will rest on maintaining the high standard of living now taken for granted by Bermudians. To do that it needs to allow business to function successfully.

In time the problem will come in meeting the expectations for jobs which have been created in Bermudians without disrespect or disharmony or continuing the perception that non-Bermudians, who are necessary to retain this economy which provides our high incomes and enviable standard of living, are "the bad guys''. It will not be an easy task even for a very diplomatic Ms Cox.

There are some people who are in Bermuda working illegally, are here legally but work without permits, or who are here under circumstances which are not at all clear. We think that is where the new Government should start to sweep clean and it might find that some of the problem will disappear.