remember with some horror what happened at Dockyard after Bermuda took most of it back from the Royal Navy and vested it in the old Crown Lands Corporation.

Thus there is natural concern over what will happen to the US bases' buildings before Bermuda can turn the bases to useful purposes.

However, we doubt that anyone thought other Bermudians would intentionally vandalise one of the historic buildings on the bases. A great many Bermudians spend their time and money protecting Bermuda's buildings. For instance, The National Trust has worked tirelessly in recent years to raise capital to protect old buildings. It is always alarming and discouraging when Bermudians damage Bermuda's heritage. The shock is magnified, of course, because the wilful damage has been done by people who are part of a supposedly disciplined force, the Bermuda Regiment. We can only be thankful that the Bermuda Regiment group was not let loose at Kindley Field where it might have damaged Carter House, a major treasure.

This all demonstrates the need for control of the bases lands while decisions are being made. The US bases commander, Capt. Tim Bryan, is quoted as saying that since there is no-one living or working on the West End base and no assets on the base, there is nothing to protect.

Capt. Bryan said that vandalism has been occurring at the Annex since its closure but also says that the Annex is secured with a fence and a lock which is all that is required. Clearly that is callow. It is an attempt to suggest that there is nothing there worth having and that is not true. There are at least three notable houses there and a great deal more.

Capt. Bryan also said that base personnel "periodically'' visit the West End base and respond when informed of trespassing or vandalism. The implication is that the West End base is now abandoned but it has yet to be returned to Bermuda. There would not appear to be any logical reason why Bermuda cannot have the base back now.

The minister dealing with the return of the bases to Bermuda, Dr. Grant Gibbons, is quoted as saying that while the Annex is in control of the US Navy, Government is reluctant to proceed with any security there.

That indicates to us that the Naval Annex is unprotected and unguarded by anyone and will remain so until it reverts to Bermuda in September, two and a half months away.

Surely that is unacceptable to anyone.