reference was to Shadow Minister of Home Affairs Alex Scott who claimed in the House of Assembly that changes were being made to the law so that Police Commissioner Colin Coxall could stay on after his three year contract expires.

The truth is that most of the people in Bermuda, sensible ones at least, fear that Colin Coxall is not here to stay. Mr. Scott has a long history of attacks on the Police, especially on the hierarchy of the Police, which have given comfort to criminals. He has also given the appearance of being very soft on drugs although he recently did support Operation Cleansweep.

This is not a situation where there are officers who are ready and able to become Commissioner. It is lamentable that there are not, but that cannot be blamed on Colin Coxall. He has instigated training in the United Kingdom since he arrived but he was not here when there was a failure to train properly.

To his credit the Minister of Home Affairs, Quinton Edness, has said there is no decision on the future leadership of the Police Service and that an extension of Mr. Coxall's contract is an option.

What is very clear is that we should have the best Police Service we can get for Bermuda and Colin Coxall has demonstrated that, for now, he is the best for Bermuda's Police Service. This is not to denigrate Bermudian officers nor is it to say that Colin Coxall has to stay forever but he is of great value to Bermuda today.

He is a well-trained and highly experienced officer from a Police Service far more advanced than Bermuda's. Over the years Bermuda's Police Service had become fat and antique. It was in need of pulling up to today's most efficient standards and Colin Coxall has demonstrated that he can do that job.

Commissioner Coxall came here at Bermuda's invitation on a three year contract thinking he was going to do a Police job that needed doing. First of all, the necessary work was much more extensive than anyone thought. Secondly, he was turned into a political whipping boy by the Progressive Labour Party which consumed a good deal of his working day. With all that going on, it was unreasonable to expect him to carry out a restructuring of the Police Service in three years.

The changes that have been achieved are remarkable but the truth is that three years was not enough time to complete the job Bermuda asked him to do. It seems to us that to changes Commissioners now would be a grave mistake.

Mr. Edness has been quoted as saying: "One thing we don't want to do is make any mistakes and have the Service fall down again and lose all the good work which has been done.'' We entirely agree.