Bermuda with a few undeclared but prescribed drugs indicates how wrong the Airport policing system can go. All Bermudians have to wonder why this woman was picked on, since it is clear that thousands of people must enter Bermuda every year with undeclared prescription drugs.

Yes, the drugs laws should be upheld by Customs and by the Police. Yes, we have to be vigilant against drugs but there is a difference between vigilance and lynching. To drag any woman to court for a few valium pills is excess in the extreme. Surely someone in the Police at the Airport must have common sense and must be charged with exercising some common sense. Clearly that did not happen in this case. It is incomprehensible to us that someone did not say, "No, not for five valiums.'' If the woman had been bringing in marijuana or any number of other substances then she should have been arrested. If she had been carrying five boxes of valium instead of five tablets then we can see that there might be suspicion that she would distribute them illegally. But to arrest any person and drag them to court for five valium tablets is outrageous. Point the law out to them, certainly. Warn them, if you wish. But to arrest them and charge them for five valium tablets is close to insanity in a tourist resort. It is certainly a suicidal act.

It is enormously unfortunate for Bermuda that the woman arrested and charged turned out to be an Editor of Bride's Magazine. Let us say that who she is or what she is should have nothing to do with criminal charges. However, in this instance, who the woman is impacts heavily on Bermuda.

Bermuda is a honeymoon destination. Bride's Magazine is the single most important magazine to Bermuda. The magazine has a long history of being friendly to Bermuda. It is only human that the editors of the magazine will now deeply question whether Bermuda wants visitors and whether the magazine should be suggesting that its readers come to Bermuda where they could have their honeymoon ruined. Bride's Magazine is no longer able to suggest to honeymooners that they are welcome in Bermuda and will be comfortable on their honeymoon.

The whole situation is made worse because a large group from Bride's Magazine was on the Island for its annual sales meeting, exactly the kind of meeting Bermuda wants most to attract. We doubt that they will be back. Would you? The problem is greatly magnified because by now every magazine editor in New York has heard of this incident and is questioning whether or not Bermuda wants visitors or whether it wants to abuse people.

The problem may rest with a law that prohibits small amounts of personal prescription drugs unless accompanied by a prescription. The second problem is that no one at the Airport exercised discretion over five valium pills. Did no one think to call a senior person? Or call the Minister? Or seek any advice before arresting a woman for five personal valium pills? The law is to protect Bermuda but this arrest could have been avoided in a very proper way with a simple warning. The arrest was unnecessary in any case and, in this case, it was dangerous for Bermuda.

In fact, this arrest was so dangerous and so misguided that we must wonder if there is a hidden agenda to hurt Bermuda, or a conspiracy or a plot against Customs and the Police. Maybe it is just sheer incompetence.

We can be thankful for one thing. No-one strip searched her.