has achieved nothing except a climate of cynicism in the Country.

In the wake of the last election and the divisive and unnecessary referendum on Independence, the people of Bermuda hoped for and dearly wanted proper behaviour, especially proper political behaviour. They thought the new government would take the high road, set some public standards and get on cleanly and efficiently with the Country's business. But not for the first time this year the Government is out of touch with the mood of the people.

Tim Smith blundered. What's worse, he failed to understand the problem he had created. He thought he had simply offended a fellow MP and could smooth things over with a simple apology. He also seems to have thought that his problem was getting caught. In fact, he had violated a cardinal rule and given every impression that he was prepared to bend the rules of his Ministry in order to achieve revenge.

It is clear to just about everyone that Mr. Smith should have "done the right thing'' and left the Cabinet. Mr. Smith did not understand that. What is a good deal more disturbing is that Premier David Saul did not understand it either. In fact, the Premier gave every impression of cynicism when he moved Mr. Smith to Youth and Sport and said that Mr. Smith's new ministry was a promotion. That was the worst possible solution, worse than no solution.

When Premier Saul said that he considered the Ministry of Youth and Sport one of the two most important ministries in Bermuda, and gave Youth and Sport to the blundering Mr. Smith, Premier Saul sent the worst kind of message to the Country. He also sent a very frightening message to youth. He announced that thoroughly bad behaviour gets you promoted. This is a new level of cynicism.

Behave badly and you will be rewarded.

Thus the Premier and Mr. Smith have brought into question the integrity of this Government and damaged the image of all politicians. But, much worse, it confirms in the public mind the widely held suspicion that "the boys'' can do as they please and get away with it. Is it any wonder that the public is suspicious and cynical? The sad thing is that none of this need have happened. If only Mr. Smith had understood the problem and "done the right thing'' in the beginning, the new Government could have held the high road and, we think, Mr. Smith would have saved himself.

If Mr. Smith had understood the problem, admitted his mistake, taken his licks and resigned from the Cabinet, the public would have forgiven him, even admired his honesty. He's a young man, in one or two years time, having paid the price, he could have been reappointed to Cabinet without any problem.

Instead, Mr. Smith will be remembered as the man who embarrassed his Government in its early days and did not even understand the basic rules.

Mr. Smith and his Premier have demonstrated that this is a Government of expediency, not integrity, that the standards are low, that the Government will take any old road if it seems to be easy. You'll be promoted if you behave badly.

The people are justified in their cynicism and their sagging confidence. This may well be followed by despair.