woman conducting the tour remarked, quite innocently, that Luxembourg is an unusual place because all the hard work is done by Portuguese people.

The young woman looked confused when the Bermudians roared with laughter.

They, of course, knew that Luxembourg was not unique. Much of the hard work is done by Portuguese people in Bermuda too.

For most of this century Bermuda has relied on the Portuguese for sweat and toil. Thus it is difficult now to understand why Bermuda has decided to cause the Portuguese tears. It is not to Bermuda's credit that it has been sending long-serving Portuguese home.

Maybe in tough times it is easiest to push out of the boat those who are least likely to complain. It is certainly true that in our time the Portuguese have been willing to work hard without complaint.

We think Bermudians find it embarrassing that the Portuguese work hard, live quietly, mind their own business and improve their lot. Certainly hard work and success has resulted in wealth and position for a large number of Bermuda's Portuguese. That has itself led to one of the problems of the Portuguese. The successful Bermudians of Portuguese descent have seemed strangely unwilling to lend a hand to newer arrivals in threatening times or to support their cause.

Why? Perhaps they have forgotten in a similar way to black Bermudians who make disparaging remarks about West Indians or white Bermudians who "can't stand Limeys''.

There is no doubt that the Portuguese have made a major contribution to the good life Bermudians enjoy so much. They have done more than their share to make Bermuda the best of the Islands.

Look around you.

From the huge manicured garden we call Bermuda, to the modern buildings, to the grocery stores, to the service businesses to Parliament and you will see the contribution of the Portuguese. It is not to Bermuda's credit that it treats the Portuguese as a third and not quite acceptable group. How long will it take to stop categorising "black, white and Portuguese''? For reasons based in prejudice, both black and white Bermudians too often give the impression that they think the Portuguese are a people apart, no matter how long they have been in Bermuda. That, of course, makes for an easier conscience when long serving contract workers are sent packing.

Most of the Portuguese came here because Bermuda invited them here to perform jobs Bermudians could not or would not perform. We invited the Portuguese here. They were not illegal aliens imposing themselves on Bermuda. Bermuda asked them to come here and work.

We think Bermuda has to remember that when there is a temptation to put down the Portuguese. It certainly has to remember that when it decides to send home people who have laboured away for half their lives to make Bermuda better while they kept Bermuda beautiful.