defeat Grape Bay Ltd. and McDonald's and have voted with the PLP to disrupt their own Government's plans for the Base lands and have also contributed to the censure of their Premier. It is very clear that Bermuda is dealing with something much more serious than a Government split over former Premier Sir John Swan and his ill-conceived McDonald's.

This is a UBP split which is going to be taken to the end by a group of five MPs who are now making it clear that they do not care what the end is. If anyone still thought this split was over hamburgers, they will have no doubt today that it is over power and that it is rooted in hatred.

The Government is paralysed in the House of Assembly. "The Rebel Five'' have said they will not bring their Government down. That may still be the case but the majority of the UBP cannot protect the leader and the leader cannot get his legislation passed. That's paralysis.

Clearly by voting to censure the Premier and by disrupting major plans for the Base lands, "The Rebel Five'' are rejecting the leadership of David Saul.

Yet, in all likelihood, Premier Saul commands the rest of the UBP's Parliamentary representatives. If he resigned the leadership and put it to the test, as John Major did, then he would probably be confirmed. But the five would still be there and by voting with the PLP they are able to hold their own party to ransom. If the party throws them out, which many must want to do, then the party does not command a majority of the House.

We think the five are now going much too far. We agreed with their views on Grape Bay Ltd. and it was a matter of principle because it smelled of a political deal and McDonald's was bad for the ecology and the image of Bermuda. However, the five are now disrupting business which is important to Bermuda and to the people, business which deserves to be dealt with in a serious manner. The five are disrupting the governing of the Country for selfish motives.

As we see it, "The Rebel Five'' are in a very difficult position. They have tasted "blood'' and must be flushed with victory today but there is nothing they can win. They are a hair away from their own disaster. David Saul must be thinking of letting the people decide by calling an election. A summer election would be a rout for the UBP. If the five cause the UBP to fall after over 30 years, they will never be forgiven by the same right wing they seek to please.

It would appear that, at the least, they now intend to bring down David Saul.

That must seem like a very real possibility today. We hear reports that both C.V. (Jim) Woolridge and Ann Cartwright want to be Premier but they must know that even if they force David Saul to quit, there is no room for any one of the five as leader because the UBP divisions would simply continue the disruption.

Seldom in the history of any country can a ruling party have tried so hard to defeat itself.