On Friday, the Mid-Ocean News broke an important story about how the Progressive Labour Party sees an independent Bermuda.

The story, drawn from transcripts lodged on the Bermuda Independence Commission?s website, focused on Premier Alex Scott comparing Governor Sir John Vereker?s political views to Attila the Hun, mainly because Sir John repeated in a speech what was already British Government policy; that Bermudians will not retain British passports after Independence.

Still, buried in the transcript of Sen. Walter Roban?s presentation of the PLP position was a quite dangerous proposal.

Sen. Roban said that the PLP would want to see the Auditor General restricted to a limited term in office and also wanted the appointment to be made by the post-Independence equivalent of the Public Service Commission.

That the PLP want to set a term of office for the Auditor is not surprising. Mr. Scott has wanted that ever since Larry Dennis, the current holder, revealed the catastrophic handling of the contract for the new Berkeley school and Mr. Scott?s own mismanagement of it.

This newspaper disagrees with that position because the Auditor General should have some security, just as strangely enough, it says the Chief Justice should.

But the idea that the Auditor should be appointed by the PSC (as opposed to the Governor, as he is now) is plain wrong. That would effectively make the Auditor General a civil servant and would shed him of the independence he needs to fairly and fearlessly investigate Government?s financial procedures.

He would in effect, become a puppet of the Government, dependent on its goodwill for future employment.

So why would the PLP propose reducing the Auditor General?s independence? It can only be because the PLP dislikes Mr. Dennis since he has not been afraid to tell the truth as he sees it (the PLP loved him for the same reason when it was in Opposition).

So this proposal has nothing to do with Independence and everything to do with petty politics and settling scores.

And that?s no way to run a country, independent or otherwise.

From time to time, it?s worth remembering the good things that happen in Bermuda.

Two stories in last week?s show that there?s plenty to celebrate.

One concerned Danilia Martin, a 14-year-old student-athlete at Sandys Secondary Middle School who took time out every day last year to wheel 11-year-old Yushae Simons, who has cerebral palsy, to school and to keep an eye on her during the day.

At a time when ?the youth? come in for so much criticism, the story of Danilia and Yushae restore hope in Bermuda?s young people.

On a different note, something remarkable is happening in Bermuda cricket. The national team, having shown grit and determination in qualifying for the 2007 World Cup, defeated Canada in a three-day match in Toronto.

If they can defeat the Cayman Islands today, this should see them qualify for the ICC Intercontinental Cup in Namibia next month.

But it is not so much the fact that they won, but how they won, which deserves praise. The team was skittled when it batted in its first innings, and then gave up a fairly big score to Canada. But they never gave up and showed the same grit and determination that they had in Ireland to win the match.

For far too long, Bermuda?s best cricketers have been praised for their flair and natural talent, and criticised for their indiscipline and carelessness. Under the leadership of coach Gus Logie and captain Clay Smith, the current squad seems to be made of different stuff.

Too often in Bermuda, we criticise others when we get frustrated. We could all learn from the cricket team?s never say die attitude and self-reliant approach.