So the Government’s decision to set up its own information channel is already a public relations disaster — is anyone really surprised?Remember this is the Government which recently had to relaunch its web portal — which still contains the clanger “Bermuda Independence Community”.

Hector is unsure whether this typo (which appears more than once, it must said) was really a reference to the Bermuda Independence Commission — or is just a thinly-disguised attempt to claim the bid to break from Britain has a wider interest beyond the 13 who meet every week at Cabinet building.

Either way it seems to be full steam ahead for Gov-Prop 1 even if we don’t know when, which channel, how many hours or where it will be placed. Although it is safe to assume the taxpayer will be footing the bill.

Hector doesn’t know whether to be concerned or amused by Premier Alex Scott’s protestations that there are scores of other examples of other democracies with similar services.

The last time the PLP floated the idea, in 1999, Renee Webb dared to suggest the concept was in existence with the British Broadcasting Corporation — only to earn a stinging rebuke from the BBC who took issue with her claims it was used “to put out Government information” and was Government-funded.

In fact the BBC operates under an independent charter which protects it from Government control and is funded by licence fees levied on every TV owner.

Hector suggests Alex Scott use a country he is more fond of as an example of Government-run television — after all Fidel has never had to bother chancing his pronouncements to the whims of independent media outlets in good old Cuba, has he? It appears Senate leader Larry Mussenden is already onboard with the concept of media manipulation.

As a group photo of the newly-convened Senate was being prepared after the Throne Speech the photographer asked that a floor-standing fan cluttering the shot be taken out.

“I can remove it later in Photoshop but it’s easier to take it out on the spot,” said the photographer. To which, Sen. Mussenden quipped: “Can you remove people from the shot as well?” Indeed. Part of the problems caused by the endless Government whining about bias is their total incomprehension of what the word means. Hector is constantly amused to hear politicians who have spent all their lives publicly supporting one side of the political divide then label anyone who doesn’t agree with them as biased.

Frankly it carries all the credibility of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson impugning the impartiality of the referee after he has failed to award his side their customary home penalty. Mind you, when you have a radio channel co-owned by Government MP Glenn Blakeney<$> who then employs Government Minister David Burch as DJ who then interviews Government leader Alex Scott the concept of media impartiality is clearly already a thing of the past in certain quarters. Sunday night’s cosy chat saw Mr. Scott field a variety of soft questions from the normally stern Sen. Burch who then reverted to type in the closing moments by starting a rant about the lack of respect for Ministers given by the press. Is it any wonder?With Government radio seemingly already in existence it was only a matter of time until they turned their attention to the goggle box.

In the end Hector thinks Government TV might backfire in a “be careful what you wish for” type scenario.

Government’s pledge to air press conferences in their entirety will mean its less fluid performers will be revealed in all their um, um glory.

And of course scheduling might be a problem with some ministers seeming to make a point of being late.Sticking with the TV theme Hector was amused by ZBM’s Gary Moreno’s attempt to give us a meaningful new insight into the current Police operation to catch a suspected serial sex attacker.

In the course of reporting female views on the issue, and perhaps in a rather needless attempt to ratchet up the significance of the story, he delivered the pearl of wisdom that: “Women make up nearly half the population of Bermuda.”

In a fairly depressing week Hector is happy to report the report that, according to the 2000 census, females make up 52 percent of the population of the Island. Long may it remain so.Hector wouldn’t want to incur the wrath of those macho street enforcers of the Police Support Unit. But he couldn’t help giggling at the recent cancelling of a press conference to unveil their new riot van because of “inclement weather”. It seems they can handle machete-wielding marauders terrorising the streets but rain?