that more Bermudians should be given the chance to get into journalism. He was quoted as follows, "We are saying there should be training objectives for local Bermudians to become journalists in this Country.

"It's an indictment against the Country to let The Royal Gazette constantly have a free hand to bring in journalists.

"If we have a Bermuda Royal Gazette that paper should be monopolised by local writers.'' The remarks demonstrate just how little Mr. Simmons knows about the workings of The Royal Gazette and the Mid-Ocean News , both published by The Royal Gazette Ltd.

First of all The Royal Gazette Ltd. has no "free hand'' to bring in journalists and is subject to the same Immigration Department regulations as everybody else.

Secondly, Mr. Simmons ignores the fact that the General Manager of the Royal Gazette Ltd., the Editor of The Royal Gazette , The Editor of the Mid-Ocean News , the Assistant Editor of The Royal Gazette and the News Editors of both newspapers are all Bermudians as is the Chief Photographer.

Thirdly, Mr. Simmons seems unaware of the large number of young Bermudian students who express an interest in journalism and are taken in each and every summer at great expense by the newspapers so that the students can define their interest. Four of our summer students have turned out to be Rhodes Scholars. That summer programme has been the most successful means of entry into local journalism.

Mr. Simmons could get some information from Miss Paula Cox, his PLP and Parliamentary colleague, who was a Royal Gazette summer student.

The newspaper also takes in people believed to be capable who have been in other fields and want to switch to journalism. That fact allows people to exercise a choice.

Over as very long period The Royal Gazette Ltd. has been the training place for most of the people involved in Bermuda's media today, from the Bermuda Sun, to Government Information Services, to television, the local magazines and Tourism information services. In almost every case the people at the top of those organisations began their careers at The Royal Gazette . A number of noted local photographers have also started with the newspapers.

The truth is that there is no reluctance on Par-La-Ville Road to encourage or to train or to promote Bermudians. It is simply a fact that Bermuda has done so well by its people and provided so many opportunities that the bright and capable young Bermudians we would like to have as reporters have a variety of choices.