supported the recent defacement of a Bermuda College wall with graffiti.

Mr. Wade was reacting to an editorial in The Royal Gazette , which he described as "most unfair.'' The editorial said Mr. Wade's recent comments in an interview with VSB News suggested that he felt the spraying of graffiti at Bermuda College attacking the Governor and the overseas hiring of Bermuda's two top Police officers "was acceptable, if not great, at least all right.

"He even seems to suggest that this type of destructive protest was late in coming and he wonders why it took so long,'' the editorial said.

"Mr. Wade knows that the spray can method of protest was wrong but he did not say that. What he is reported as saying appears to agree with the use of spray paint on public walls.'' Mr. Wade said he "condemned'' the graffiti.

"I condemned the destruction of property and the graffiti on the wall,'' he said. "I didn't think it was appropriate. For the Gazette to turn around and say I condoned it or encouraged it is so unfair.'' Mr. Wade said he did wonder aloud "why the students took so long to react in some way'', to the overseas Police hiring, but he did not condone their actions.

An audio tape of the interview shows that Mr. Wade did say: "I condemn the defacing and destructing of property. That's not good.'' But he also said he understood the frustration of the students. While his reaction was to circulate a petition or put forward a motion to Parliament, "other people react differently, and who am I to say that they are wrong,'' he said.

"Don't blame the messenger.'' Mr Wade said the graffiti was "a direct result of the students thinking for themselves and seeing for themselves''.

He was "only surprised the college students took so long to react in some way or another''.