of convicted child murderer Chesterfield Johnson. In the past this newspaper has strongly advocated community notification of the presence in their midst of a person who might offend again. We do that again today. We believe in "Megan's Law'' as it is being used in the United States.

However we must recognise that Chesterfield Johnson has served his sentence, his full sentence, without parole. If this were an early release we would be strongly opposed. He has done the time that the law gave him and in the normal way he is due for release from prison. We do not see any lawful way to continue to hold him, although we have great sympathy for people who are frightened by his proposed release.

He was convicted of raping and murdering an 11-year-old schoolgirl. It was a particularly nasty and frightening crime which raised strong emotion at the time. Public reaction today indicates that many people still remember. Child welfare groups are entirely correct in their concern that he could re-offend.

We agree with Home Affairs Minister Maxwell Burgess who has said that Johnson will be strictly monitored after his release on December 19. Mr. Burgess has said that authorities will do everything in their power to stop Johnson re-offending. That is as it should be.

Shadow Social Services Minister Renee Webb has said the public needs to be confident that every effort is being taken to ensure that Mr. Johnson is adequately housed and monitored.

She has been quoted as saying: "While it is true that Mr. Johnson has attended programmes to rehabilitate him while in prison, the success rate for sex offenders is not highly successful without assistance, ongoing psychological counselling and monitoring upon release.'' We do understand that having served his term Mr. Johnson has rights. However we firmly believe that the public has a right to protection and will be more comfortable if they know where he is housed and if they know how he is being monitored.

He has been in prison for a long time and there are not very many people today who will know what he looks like. We think the public has a right to protect Bermuda's children. Therefore we think they should be able to identify today's Chesterfield Johnson. We think a current photograph should be widely circulated especially in the area where he is to be housed.

This is a very difficult and sensitive situation with rights on both sides but Bermuda would never forgive itself if another child died. This may well be a case where the public's right to know and the public's right to protect itself should come before individual rights.