network of eavesdroppers to supply it with stories has taken Press criticism into the realm of the ridiculous.

MP Dale Butler's allegation that there was a network of people with surveillance equipment snooping on mobile phone conversations and then passing the information on to this newspaper under the pretence that the details were from PLP MPs, would be laughable and unworthy of response if it were not so serious.

It is difficult to know what Mr. Butler's source of information was, but we challenge him to back up his statements outside the House of Assembly, without the protection of Parliamentary privilege.

For the record, this newspaper does not, never has and never will do what Mr.

Butler claims -- and to the best of our knowledge, no-one else in the Bermuda media ever has either.

Mr. Butler's comments, coupled with an attack on one of The Royal Gazette's reporters by Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb, suggests the Government is more intent on killing the messenger than getting on with the people's business.

Ms Webb, who says she has been taken out of context, never complained to this newspaper, and had ample opportunities to put her side of the story. It is unfortunate that instead of doing that, she chose to use the floor of the House of Assembly to attack an individual who could not defend himself.

Increasingly, this newspaper finds itself between a rock and a hard place. We have a duty to report the news fairly and accurately. It is difficult to do that when Government Ministers refuse to comment, or worse, refuse to answer telephone calls at all.

Government has the opportunity to put its message out, yet refuses to do so, and this newspaper would be derelict in its duty if it failed to print stories simply because a person made him or herself unavailable for comment.

Instead, the Government chooses to ignore the media and then produces bizarre conspiracy theories more worthy of the X-Files than the House of Assembly.

This is not to say that The Royal Gazette or any other media organisation will get it right every time -- but when we make mistakes, we will correct them and correct them quickly.

Ms Webb also said The Royal Gazette is not highly thought of "by anyone'' in Bermuda. That claim is dubious, but she is not wrong that some people dislike The Royal Gazette and view it as being out of touch with, and insensitive to, black Bermudians in particular.

It is difficult to fully agree with that view, but perception can become reality and we accept the need to change it.

The way to do that is not by pandering to any segment of the community, or by shading or hiding the truth to make a particular political party or Government look good.

The answer is to keep seeking out the truth and to keep reporting it fairly and accurately. In doing so, we serve the one group of people who are most important to this newspaper -- our readers.