the Bermuda Hospitals Board should be raising alarm bells.

For a very long time now members of the public and this newspaper have advocated that there should be more women both in public office and on boards in Bermuda. Here we have a situation where a number of talented women who have made contributions to Bermuda in any number of fields are under attack simply because of who they are. It would be very difficult in this case to attack their qualifications, their experience, their contributions or their talent.

Bermuda has a very sophisticated and complex superstructure. There are occasions when it is difficult if not impossible to find people who are both able and willing to volunteer for these jobs. That is despite the fact that as a Country we have a long history of people who work for the public good and who have made contributions which we would never have been able to pay for.

Inevitably in a place the size of Bermuda there will be what seem to be conflicts of interest simply because so many people are connected through the professions or business or by family ties. If all of them are to be excluded from public service then there will be very little service given and Bermuda will be the poorer. It is probably also fair to say that women or men married to people in positions of power and influence can often get things done...and quickly.

In the case of the Hospitals Board the Minister of Finance has no direct control of the financial workings of the hospitals and there appears to be more than adequate separation between his function and his wife's service on the Board.

These apparent conflicts will exist no matter which political party is in power and doing the appointing to boards. It is all but impossible to avoid.

We have to wonder if the Progressive Labour Party is attacking the Hospitals Board because at least two of the women happen to be married to senior United Bermuda Party politicians. Remember, they are not being attacked for a lack of contribution or talent but simply because of their relationship to politicians. They are not poor performers who are out of their depth and contributing very little. These are not people sitting for the honour of sitting while having little contribution to make.

It is not clear if Ms Webb is saying that people with connections with the United Bermuda Party -- or any political party -- should not serve on Government boards. If she is, then Bermuda would never find enough people to serve on the boards and may as well abolish the system.

If instead she is saying that the parties should be more evenly represented on Government boards, then she should look in her own backyard -- because the PLP has historically refused to serve on Government boards with a very few exceptions like the Defence Board.

What we are seeing is more than likely only another political move designed to cause a problem and to score political points. In our view, it is too bad they are being scored at the expense of people who have been making a valid contribution. When others refuse to serve because they do not want to undergo such abuse then we will all be wondering what is happening to the quality of boards in Bermuda.