My critics have been taking me to task recently. A couple of weeks ago Bermuda's Auditor General Larry Dennis accused me of applying what he called "the slick oil of innuendo" in my Commentary responding to the report of the three British politicians from the UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee and, in particular, the Auditor General statement that he felt his treatment by the Police was politically motivated.

Ironically when I made the comment that I could guess who made statements before the Foreign Affairs Committee, I did not have the Auditor General specifically in mind.

I did not have to single out Mr. Dennis because it is quite clear that he has many defenders, chief among them the United Bermuda Party as well as another group, the so-called Voters Rights Association.

These two entities, as I understand it, ran off to England to complain about political improprieties that have supposedly occurred here under the current Progressive Labour Party Government before the arrival of the Foreign Affairs Committee,

Mr. Dennis admits that he did not take up the opportunity to meet the FAC at a Government House reception.

Well, that is a revelation. I did not realise such a reception had taken place and, to my mind, the fact such an event was held throws cold water on the statement of one of the members of the UK Parliamentary group to the effect that their meetings and conclusions were arrived at impartially. For, personally, I cannot think of a more congenial setting for Government detractors to gather and make their complaints about the Government than at Bermuda's Government House, the very heart of our colonial political system.

One thing I would speculate on is that the Auditor General shares the same views about this Government as Governor Sir John Vereker who was quoted by the UK Foreign Affairs Committee as saying there was no love lost between himself and the PLP.

Sir John Vereker was Governor when Police files on the Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal were leaked to the media and the Auditor General temporarily found himself in hot water with Prospect.

The current Governor, Richard Gozney, took over from John Vereker when events surrounding the leaked BHC files were, for the most part, winding up. Unlike his predecessor, Governor Gozney seems to understand the concept of diplomacy.

He has said the Governor of Bermuda should try and avoid direct involvement in Bermuda's internal affairs. He made these comments when he appeared on HOTT1075's popular Sunday night talk show, assuring Bermuda that he would tread lightly in his role as Governor. His statement must have greatly disappointed anti-PLP Government detractors who were hoping feverishly for direct British intervention in Bermuda's affairs following the leaking of Police reports on the BHC scandal.

The Auditor General denies that he handled the leaked Police documents (the term "leaked" to me is a polite term for stolen).

But he does not deny that he may know the original source for the leaking of the documents and to date has refused to name the person or persons involved. It is interesting to me that the Auditor General cites the judgement of the Privy Council on this matter, stating - as the Law Lords did - that the Police documents could not be considered to have been stolen because the matter involved copies rather than the originals.

Here is my opinion of that judgment: the English language has many words that can be interpreted as having a double meaning. In other words, which definition you choose to go with can help you to wiggle out of certain sets of circumstances.

And since the law is largely based on the intrepration of language and precedents, you should not be surprised that the Privy Council was able to arrive at such a judgment.

But their ruling makes me wonder this: in this Internet age, with the downloading of music and movies and the constant threats of the original owners of these products to take people to court for availing themselves of what are said to be copies, then in light of the Privy Council's judgment are any laws in fact being broken?

Now let me respond to the writer of a Letter To The Editor who signed himself "Bemused". He has alleged that I have sacrificed my integrity by supporting Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown's efforts to dismiss Government employees at US Tourism offices and outsource their work to an American firm.

Well, let me make my position clear. It is true that I will often defend the rights of workers. But I am also an observer of the affairs of man. We live in a capitalist society and while many may swear to that system's ability to generate wealth, its underside is often ruthless, leaving many victims in its wake.

I have no illusions about how that system operates in my own country. I recognise that there's probably no such thing as a "job for life" anymore even when it comes to the Civil Service (including the Bermuda Post Office, where I work).

Just this week 47 jobs were lost at one of the international financial service sector's leading firms, XL Capital Ltd. That should demonstrate no one can take their employment prospects for granted anymore. Circumstances can and do change overnight, worldwide and right here in Bermuda.

"Bemused's" dislike of Premier Brown has blinded him to one of his real qualifications for leadership: a true leader is not one who kowtows to the mediocre for the sake of political expediency, A true leader is one who makes the tough decisions.

Say what you like about Premier Brown, he cannot be accused of failing to make the tough decisions when it is considered that the need is there.