once appeared to be a preliminary and exploratory session now seems to have become a major event. If the predictions by this newspaper's political reporter of what will be offered the territories in London are correct, then there is good news surrounded by controversy.

The good news is the suggestion of full United Kingdom citizenship to the people of the dependent territories. We will, of course. have to see exactly what that means to the people and it could be that there will be "strings attached''. However if it can be achieved, it would be wonderful for Bermudians in terms of education, training and job opportunities.

Some of the other predicted changes are a good deal more controversial. The repeal of the death penalty and the end of any corporal punishment will not make some Bermudians happy. However the fact is that while both the death penalty and corporal punishment are still on the law books, neither is now used in Bermuda. However letters to the Editor quite regularly indicate that there are people who feel they should be enforced. Some people also feel that the fact that such laws exist is a deterrent. Yet we doubt that they will be used again or that their use is either practical or sensible. Bermuda should move past both sanctioned beatings and legalised killing. Since we do not use the laws now there would be little point in letting their abolition get in the way of advancement and opportunities for Bermudians.

The anti-gay laws which some territories continue to use have been abolished in Bermuda so that should not be a problem here.

The very strange suggestion, which may or may not turn out to be true, is the suggestion to hold trials for money launderers in the United Kingdom. It would not be difficult to understand a suggestion that they should be tried by special juries with an understanding of banking and computer systems because these cases can become highly technical. But if there is a serious suggestion that they should be tried in the United Kingdom it would seem to suggest that someone thinks the local judicial system is inferior. It may simply be that Britain is very sensitive about such things as tax avoidance and money laundering.

Bermuda has a very good history of preventing money laundering and of staying clear of any suggestion that money can be laundered easily here. Doubtless there is some heavily disquised money laundering, but we do not believe there is any money laundering through local banks with agreement or knowledge.

Bermuda has a well guarded reputation for clean financial dealings. However, that does not seem to be true in some other territories. It may well be that the suggestion is not aimed at Bermuda but Bermuda will be subjected simply because it happens elsewhere.

We will all soon know what the actual proposals are. In the mentime we can only hope that all Bermudians at the meetings will present a unified front designed to do the best they can for Bermuda.