days until the General Election must be announced. The point of the ads is not very clear and they seem to us to be something of a waste of money but they do bring one thing firmly to mind, debates.

It is true that we must know the date very soon because if an election is not announced before November 5, then the Governor can set the date. There is absolutely no way the United Bermuda Party would want to be placed in that embarrassing situation so we will probably know the date within the next few weeks, if not days.

That being the case we have to ask why the proposed television debates between the two party leaders are not taking place. We cannot see any reason why the public should be deprived of seeing Premier Pamela Gordon and Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith face to face talking about the issues of today and their plans for Bermuda's future.

At one point the PLP had agreed enthusiastically to the debates but then changed its mind and dodged behind the slogan, "No debate without a date''.

That does not appear to be relevant any longer since the date has to be very close and the campaign is on with both parties out knocking on doors in search of votes. Both parties know their positions and there is no reason for the public not to have the benefit of the debate in making up their minds how to vote.

The United Bermuda Party has now distributed a comprehensive document called "Keys to Partnership'', a plan for Bermuda's future. There is no similar document from the PLP which seems to make a debate even more necessary.

Aside from the debate between the two leaders, we think the concept should be expanded.

The economy is the most important and delicate element of Bermuda's future and a debate between Finance Minister Grant Gibbons and Shadow Minister Eugene Cox would be very helpful, especially at this challenging time.

The second great concern is Bermuda's tourism. Tourism Minister David Dodwell and Shadow Minister David Allen are constantly sparring in the media with Mr.

Allen objecting to just about every move anyone makes toward improving tourism. Let's have them face to face on television and let's see what each says and what each has to offer for the future of tourism. They both argue and they both like to talk. The people have a need to know and a right to know.

There can be no real reason for leaders of the Country, the people who want to make the decisions into the next century, not to face the people and "show their stuff''.