That appeared to be the case this week.

As MPs debated the controversial Green Paper on Independence, the Union Jack -- a symbol of the Island's colonial ties -- fluttered upside down above the House of Assembly.

This is recognised as an international sign of distress.

Whether the flag was raised that way intentionally or by mistake was unknown, but it was clear that even the "learned'' members of Parliament could have used some outside help and/or divine guidance.

You could say it was bad week to fly a troop of German travel writers and reporters here for a "fam trip'' in preparation for the new Condor Airlines service starting on May 2.

Their week began at the fully-booked Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort where maids and housemen decided to stage a sit-in for the better part of Monday over a tips dispute which management later called a "simple misunderstanding''.

But unmade beds and wet towels were the least of their worries after they paid a visit to Parliament Hill.

The Germans trooped in just in time to hear two highly emotional speeches by their host, Tourism Minister Jim Woolridge, and the Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen, who was in the midst of a world tour to show how going independent without a fair and equal voting system had been no less than "disastrous'' in some countries. He "shuddered'' to think that the "dreadful unrest'' that took place in Zanzibar might occur here.

While bashing the local voting system for "suppressing the rights of indigenous Bermudians'', Mr. Allen, noticing the presence of the German journalists, said: "Mr. Speaker I want to take the opportunity to welcome them to our gallery to watch our democracy, however diluted.'' Diluted democracy! Mr. Woolridge was more concerned about the social breakdown in Bermuda. Now was not the time to be thinking about Independence.

The journalists heard how Bermuda today was more "racially divided than ever before'' and how a dozen luxury homes had gone on the market since the feared "I'' word was raised.

Then they heard of the "growing violence and social problems''.

We can't wait to read their features and reports! Perhaps it will be a better week for the next load of journalists Tourism flies in.

United Bermuda Party Sen. Lynda Milligan-Whyte knew whereof she spoke when she introduced the new Corporate Services Tax.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Finance is a partner in law firm Milligan-Whyte & Smith which has expanded rapidly into the international business sector.

And she admitted her firm will be affected by the new tax, which will take four percent of management and secretarial fees charged by local companies on international compnaies registsred with them.

The tax was both "very controversial'' and "very significant'', she said.

"I don't like it but I understand it,'' she conceded.

Nevertheless, she said, the aim was to tax companies that had experienced significant growth though the international sector.

BLOWING IN THE WIND -- Just why the Union Jack was flying upside down at the House of Assembly this week was unclear.