best for Bermudians to consider what they think is best for the Country. The issues are not the views of the Minister of Home Affairs nor should the issue be the views of The Royal Gazette . The issue is what is best for the Country.

We were under the distinct impression that Bermudians wanted an efficient and effective Police Service ensuring their safety and the security of their homes and coping effectively with the drugs menace. Bermuda may still achieve that but the fact is that we were well on our way under the Commissionership of Colin Coxall and that we could now be set back for a long time. This gives every appearance of having come about because the Minister, who is not Mr.

Coxall's boss because under the Constitution the Governor controls the Police, threatened to resign if Mr. Coxall did not leave.

We do not believe that Bermudians want the Police -- on whom they depend for their and their visitors' security -- to be subject to political tempers. That seems especially true right now when some Ministers give the impression that they think they are above the law and the Constitution. If the Minister of Home Affairs thinks that is a throwback to earlier times, or even racist as he seemed to imply at a press session to which this newspaper was not invited, then so be it. The intent is purely to support the national good as we see it.

It seems clear to us that there was a major political blunder which is now being covered up and obscured by a good deal of political and very divisive bluster. The public is being subjected to a smokescreen. From the large number of letters and calls we have received, it seems that a significant number of residents of all kinds agree with this newspaper's opinions. They are worried, concerned and fed-up. They tell us that they see this newspaper's opinions as a clear voice of reason.

The people may never know what really went on in the going of Colin Coxall because this newspaper's call for an inquiry or a Royal Commission was rejected out of hand. It appears that it was rejected on the grounds that the British Foreign Office has been kept informed. That may be true or it may only be partially true. The problem is that the Bermudian people have a right to know and they have not been kept informed.