"People's Five'', resigns today it will come at a bad time for the United Bermuda Party Government.

No Government wants the uncertainty and distraction of a by-election so close to an election. The UBP would have to find a strong candidate and win, and win big, to protect its image.

In the wake of the troubled government of Premier David Saul, the Gordon Government needs most of all to establish a public image as settled, back together and getting on with the Country's business. That is not coming to them with any ease.

The McDonald's issue which plagued the Saul Government has not gone away because it is still being pushed by a sitting Government MP and a former UBP Premier.

The "John Irving Pearman Affair'' has left the public with great uncertainty and unanswered questions. There seems to be considerable sympathy for Mr.

Pearman who is seen as a long-serving black politician who has been treated badly. Yet, despite Mr. Pearman's strong public denials, there is still a good deal of speculation about the whole affair.

His threat to sit in the House of Assembly as an independent if not left alone, made people concerned that Cabinet Ministers were becoming untouchable.

It seems to some people that the greatest Government concern was with his marginal Warwick East seat. That gives the impression that a highly effective Police Commissioner was pushed out of Bermuda because of political considerations even though his independence is supposed to be guaranteed under the Constitution. If that did happen it is a very dangerous precedent.

Despite high praise for Police Commissioner Colin Coxall by an independent and expert Police auditor, he has resigned. There was every sign that just a few weeks before his resignation the ground was being prepared by Government for his reappointment. His sudden fall from favour will always be seen by those members of the public who admired his achievements as stemming from either Mr.

Pearman's problems with Operation Cleansweep or the constant criticism of the Opposition party.

There are now widespread rumours about how and why Colin Coxall was "pushed'' even before his contract ended and without a replacement in sight. One of the rumours -- and it is only that -- says Dr. Dyer wants to leave office because Colin Coxall was fired. None of this is good for the Country or the Government and it is very bad for the Police Service.

Whatever the reasons, Dr. Dyer's resignation would give the impression that there is still dissent in the Cabinet and in the UBP.