a drugs search of prison guards. They have gone so far as to call for a full probe into the search exercise. In the Senate, the PLP called the search "nothing short of shocking''.

We think statements by PLP parliamentarians may well indicate that the PLP has lost its way on drugs. The party members seem to be so busy trying to score points against the UBP Government that they give the appearance of being soft on drugs if not actually getting in the way of moves to combat drug use and drug sales.

Why are PLP leaders doing this? It seems to us to be pure politics. We think it is a part of a PLP policy to stay on the attack and every time anything happens in Bermuda, whether or not it is for the general good, complain and keep complaining. That seems to be the PLP tactic. Use certain members to complain about the process. Use certain members to hatchet the individuals operating the process. Complain until you create an atmosphere of acrimony. There is a high potential price to that tactic because it can destroy what is good.

Judging from what is public knowledge, this newspaper does not think that the drugs search of prison guards was particularly well or very tactfully carried out. It would seem to be unwise to line up ten prison guards in the yard at the Ferry Reach Prison Farm and search them with sniffer dogs. However, we do think that they should be searched on a regular and a surprise basis. We say that because we think that the profits to be had from pushing drugs are so great that almost anyone can be tempted into the drugs trade.

There have been frequent and recurring rumours as well as reports from former prisoners, that drugs are not difficult to obtain inside the prisons. It was interesting to note that a recently escaped prisoner had been tested for hard drugs shortly before his escape. Drugs have to be taken into the prisons by people and it is only reasonable to take preventive steps.

A Government which did not move against drugs in prisons, especially given the fact that drugs are the public's number one concern, would surely be "nothing short of shocking''. Yet when moves are made, there is heavy PLP fire. How would the PLP legislators propose to stop drugs in prisons? Yes, it is embarrassing for innocent people to be sniffed and searched but sometimes it is necessary. The important thing to us is that the prison guards came up clean. Nothing was found. Guards can be proud of that.

Given the demand for drugs and given the high profits in the sale of drugs, the problem will not just go away. Steps have to be taken to combat drugs and sometimes those steps are unpleasant.

Senator Terry Lister told the Senate, "If there is one guilty party and he is brought to justice over this we are all winners. But if no one was found with drugs, then we are all losers.'' What does that statement mean? At best it means that we should be certain the guards have drugs before we search them. How else would anyone identify the "one guilty party'' without a search? This newspaper believes that the Bermudian people want action and not words on drugs. The PLP misunderstood that once before when it refused to take part in Dr. David Archibald's task force on drugs and seems to continue to misunderstand. Drugs are a national problem and should not be a political football.

We think, and we have said so many times, that drugs can and should be above politics. That is the quickest way for Bermuda to succeed and it may be the only way. Yet Bermuda continues to see ways in which the PLP tries to thwart or disrupt Government's moves against drugs. We think that, as a party, they should rethink what they are doing because what they are doing now may well be damaging Bermuda.