interview to this newspaper. A good deal of what he said seems to us to be rather outdated.

Lt. Col. David Burch is quoted as condemning those people who "question whether we can meet out commitments'' and has said those who have no confidence in the people in leadership positions in the Bermuda Regiment should picket the Cabinet Office.

It has been a very long time since we have heard any suggestions that in a crisis, the Regiment would not do its duty. As for leadership, there seems to be a general feeling that the Regiment is well disciplined by its officers and well led. In fact, we have heard nothing but very good things about Lt. Col.

Burch's leadership from very senior officials down to serving soldiers.

Yet Lt. Col. Burch seems to be angry at politicians and senior civil servants he thinks have questioned whether the Bermuda Regiment would be able to meet its commitments in a time of civil unrest. There was a time when people did ask that question but we have not heard such a serious suggestion in a long time. In fact, public thinking seems to be the direct opposite.

It makes us wonder what has gone on which has made the retiring Colonel so edgy. He says more than 90 percent of the soldiers would do their duty. We think that is very similar to the public's feeling.

The Regiment has a valuable role in Bermuda in many ways and if there are public perceptions which may be damaging to the Regiment, then the Defence Board, the Deputy Governor and the senior officers should be doing something about it. Maybe like so many other organisations in Bermuda, including Government, the Regiment needs better public relations.

We have said in the past and we continue to think that the functioning of the land-based Regiment may be outdated. Today, without the support of a resident US Navy, Bermuda might well be better off with a military establishment based on the water where it could continue most of the functions it carries out today combined with practical search and rescue. None of this is to imply that we do not appreciate today's Bermuda Regiment or that we think it does not carry out its function.

This would not mean that Bermuda would not have a disciplined force and it does not mean that it would no longer carry our ceremonial functions. It could continue its band and might well have a detachment of Marines for parade duties.

Lt. Col. Burch has been quoted as saying that: "A significant factor in our ability to help, is that we are a military organisation.'' We think that is true but we do not see the capacity diminishing under a Navy-Coast Guard orientation as opposed to a Regiment.

We are an Island with a long maritime history and it seems that many young Bermudians have a great orientation toward the water. We should build on that.

It might be that young Bermudians would see service in a navy as more relevant to their lives.

Bermuda should be looking at what is best for the Island's future. The question is simple. Is the Bermuda Regiment as relevant today as it might be? Would a water-based military establishment serve Bermuda better?