US Naval Air Station. After all, it already has a perfectly good Bermudian name, St. David's.

It is true that a number of islands were torn apart and large areas were pumped up from the sea to hurriedly create the wartime base. St. David's Island, Longbird Island and Cooper's Island are there even though there is little trace of Longbird Island. The area should simply be called St. David's and if there is a need to clarify some areas then use St. David's East and St.

David's West. There are indications in histories that people often referred to the East End and the West End of St. David's.

We totally agree with St. George's South MP Rick Spurling that there is no need to be looking for a new name, appropriate or otherwise. Mr. Spurling has been quoted as saying that it would be a mistake to call the area something new and different. Mr. Spurling advocates that the original old Bermudian names for areas of the bases should be resumed. We think it might also be sensible to keep a few of the American names like Clearwater Beach, as a bow to some 50 years of history and United States use of the area. Clearwater Beach is man made and was created by the US military. The airfield itself is man made and we think it should continue as Kindley Field having been named for First World War US flyer Field Kindley.

It is unlikely that any military base has ever been so comfortable in someone else's Country as the US bases were in Bermuda. It is remarkable just how good relations were. The bases made a major contribution to Bermuda and saved us from having to build a very expensive airfield. There should be a fitting memorial to the history of the bases and the US personnel who served here.

Now that the former commanding officer's home, Longbird House, has been demolished there is nothing left to recognise the history of Longbird Island.

Mr. Spurling has suggested that Kindley Field Road should be named Longbird Road. We think Longbird International would make an excellent name for the Airport. It is historic and noncontentious.

The important thing is to integrate the base lands into Bermuda and right now that does not seem to be happening. We think it is important to get the security fences down and stop acting as if the base is still part of the US military. The base has been given back to Bermuda and should now become part of Bermuda and that cannot happen as long as it is fenced off. We need to put St. David's back together again and to reintegrate the area into mainstream Bermuda.