who were held up by Canadian Immigration authorities for three hours when they should have been in hospital.

But the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and the Bermuda Department of Immigration should conduct inquiries of their own to ensure that the family was given all the assistance they needed.

There are at least two sides to every story, and the public deserves to hear them all.

In the meantime, there have been calls for stronger action by Bermuda against Canada. Relations between Bermudians and Canadians have been worsening for some time.

First there was the launch of the Boycott Bermuda website by supporters of the family of Rebecca Middleton, who was brutally murdered -- and whose killers have still not been brought to justice. Many innocent Bermudians felt they were being made to suffer for the actions of a very few and felt this was unfair.

Subsequently, the diplomatic row between the Bermudians and Canadian governments over the appointment of Saul Froomkin as Honorary Consul has poured salt on the wounds.

All of this has taken place against a backdrop of growing resentment towards Canadian expatriates, as evidenced by talk show comments and letters to the Editor, who seem to be the subjects of complaints by Bermudians who feel ill-treated or displaced.

None of this is healthy. Bermuda has benefited from Canada's friendship over the years. Bermudians have visited Canada and have been given a warm welcome, they have married Canadians and brought their spouses home where they contributed to the community.

And thousands of Bermudians have been educated and have worked in Canada.

Overall, Bermuda has gained as much, if not more, from its relationship with Canada as Canada has benefited from Bermuda.

Just as Bermudians objected to being made the victims of a crime which most abhorred, so Canada and Canadians do not deserve to be attacked because of the actions -- however unjustified -- of a few of their citizens.

Bermuda should protest the treatment of the Davis family with the Canadian authorities; that does not mean that relations between the two countries should be damaged any further.