consideration. For the good of the Country we have to find a way to convince the Opposition Progressive Labour Party that the role of an opposition party is not to make things worse for the Country but to work for improvements.

The PLP constantly interferes and makes a situation, sometimes a bad situation, worse. As a party, the PLP seems to have decided that it must always protest, whether something is right or wrong, important or unimportant, and no matter how much damage their action may cause. The PLP can never say: "That's good for Bermuda. Let's go for it.'' The PLP gives the impression these days of intervening no matter what the consequences for the Country and no matter how great the damage to the Country.

It might be reasonable to think that where matters affecting the good of Bermuda are concerned, the PLP would attempt to help, not hinder. An opposition should certainly be pointing out ways things can be better than they are under the present Government but their role is not to make things worse.

The Progressive Labour Party seems to work on the theory that it does not matter what you do as long as you appear to be doing something. Often its actions are coloured by the hope of gaining a few votes.

There are plenty of examples in recent years of how the PLP's "opposition'' has actually damaged Bermuda. Perhaps the most important is the PLP's refusal to take part in the drugs study process which led to the second Archibald drugs report. This was a national problem which knew no boundaries, social or political, and the PLP's refusal to take part in the process against drugs and subsequent PLP tampering with the steering committee set up to implement the Archibald Report, set Bermuda's fight against drugs back considerably. But more than that, it made the PLP seem soft on drugs and gave the impression that drugs were acceptable because not everyone was against drugs. The harm done to Bermuda can never be measured.

There are many other examples including a constantly changing PLP stand on how Bermuda is policed; opposing beach nudity while pushing for German tourism; advocating Independence but opposing the process to decide on Independence; and rushing about Washington giving conflicting ideas on Base closures.

The latest, of course, is the PLP Leader's trip to London to meddle in the appointment of two senior Police officers and confuse the debate over Independence. The PLP seems to have no understanding that what it does inside Bermuda is one thing but that senior members of the PLP should not go overseas and make Bermuda look foolish. The one thing Bermuda should have overseas is the appearance of togetherness.

No Bermudian, whether they are for or against Independence, wants Bermuda to wash its dirty linen abroad. Independence is an issue which can only by settled by Bermudians themselves.