Government is being pettier in the titles dispute we reported on in yesterday's newspaper.

UBP insiders are complaining that the Premier has refused to put former Cabinet Ministers up for the lifetime title of Honourable and are complaining that this is a breach with tradition.

Instead, the Deputy Governor stepped in and recommended the titles, saving the UBP the "embarrassment'' of having to ask for them directly.

The practice of granting the title of "Honourable'' to long (and not-so-long) serving politicians has always been somewhat questionable. This newspaper stopped using the titles some years ago, in part because the list was getting more and more diluted and in part because there was no evidence that holding an office made a person more honourable (or worshipful) than they were before.

The UBP insiders' argument that the titles should be awarded based on length of service in the Cabinet or Senate as opposed to for meritorious service tends to devalue the titles even further.

The UBP, which has also complained about losing the right to park in the Cabinet Office and the instant removal of the Cabinet Minister designation from some of their members' passports, risks being seen as being more concerned with privilege than with principle. That is a bad sign for a party which should be intent on rebuilding, not scrambling to hold onto the old perks of office.

But the new Government should also be careful. There is credit to be had by being magnanimous in victory and in treating the Opposition with respect, even if some PLP members feel they did not always get it when they were on the other side of the House. That's known as learning from someone else's mistakes.

The time has probably come when worrying about the removal and addition of perks and privileges should be forgotten and both parties should instead get on with the proper governance of Bermuda. That would be a truly honourable act.

PAYING THE BEST EDT Paying the best Government deserves credit for moving quickly on giving Police officers a long-overdue pay raise.

Failure to pay officers an adequate salary will result in corruption and will deter the best and the brightest from serving in a Service which desperately needs them.

Cabinet and the Police Association would do well to approve this increase, which should do something to improve morale and encourage retention of the best officers.