of Bermuda has become something of a target. It seems to us that some people fail to understand what a Governor contributes to Bermuda.

There is little doubt that the present Governor, Lord Waddington, very correctly intervened and made certain that Bermuda's Independence referendum followed the law and took place only one day late. If he had not done so and the referendum had been delayed, for whatever reasons, until the students came home for Christmas, Bermudians would still be embroiled in a highly debilitating debate. It is likely that Bermuda would have suffered enormous harm and that by now the people would have been thoroughly sick of the whole matter.

This is a prime example of the advantages of an outside Governor who is not tied to local politics or politicians or to Bermudian families or businesses.

All of our local politicians have other careers and a Governor chosen from those politicians would inevitably have a political agenda and a personal agenda. It would be very difficult in Bermuda to find a talented "neutral'' Governor acceptable to the political parties and able to remove himself or herself from untoward pressure. Governors from Britain do not bring that baggage with them.

But many Governors do bring with them a career history and a stature which can be used to Bermuda's advantage. They have contacts useful to Bermuda and they are well placed to make contacts from which Bermuda benefits. It is also amazing sometimes what entre me a title provides.

As an example, the present Governor, because he was so highly placed as Home Secretary in Britain, had the knowledge to choose talented top Policemen for Bermuda when Bermuda needed them.

When former MP Mr. Philip Smith recently suggested a Bermudian Governor he clearly did not recognise the importance to Bermuda of an unfettered Governor with outside contacts.

There is now a long tradition of Bermuda paying the salary of a Governor and getting two hard workers for the price of one. Governor's wives have made an enormous contribution, especially to Bermuda's charities. Bermuda has a history of women who work hard for charity but Governor's wives do not have to do so. Wives could well play hostess and chair a few charity meetings. Nothing says they have to work hard, yet Governor's wives do work hard for Bermuda.

In the Bermuda charity world it was estimated recently that the present Governor's wife has raised charity funds the equivalent of seven times the Governor's salary every year she has been in Bermuda.

Lady Waddington has done that on top of a heavy schedule of public duties and endless demands on her time as the Government House hostess where incumbents operate a combination official entertainment centre and Government guest house. Bermuda should have remembered all that when there was a recent suggestion to cut the Governor's salary.

There seems to be some thinking that being Governor of Bermuda is the ultimate cushy job. The United Kingdom press assumes that all is glorious in paradise and uses it as an excuse to target governors. Bermudians often think social events are the total job. That is simply not true. Governors and their wives work very hard and are not allowed to complain or to answer their critics.