It is a total mystery why it is taking so long to appoint a new Director of Tourism.

As John Harvey from the Bermuda Hotel Association said in yesterday?s newspaper, the post has now been vacant since last November when Judith Hall Bean moved to the Cabinet Office. Now, with a new high season for tourism underway, the likelihood of the post being filled by the end of this summer is remote.

Tourism remains the second most important revenue earner for the Bermuda economy. It needs executive direction and stability which a Minister and acting Directors simply cannot provide, no matter how good a job they do in the interim.

To be sure, this post has not been notable for great job security since the present Government came to power. And the recent ?rebellion? of civil servants in the Department makes the job even less appetising.

But that gives all the more reason for the Government to get on with it and appoint a capable executive who can give the Ministry direction and capably execute its policies.