politics. Sometimes it is clear that Opposition politicians misunderstand their role and engage in political comment which is harmful to Bermuda rather than constructive. That is certainly true of their behaviour toward the Police Service where they give every appearance of having a destructive agenda.

The Opposition role is to keep the Government "on its toes'' and to be a watchdog to prevent government excess. That role was perfectly demonstrated by Shadow Minister for Education Jennifer Smith in the House of Assembly on Friday.

Ms Smith had very properly tabled questions in the House regarding a recruiting trip to New Zealand which involved the Ministry of Education. The shocking answer to her question was that the taxpayer paid all but $20,000 for three people to fly to New Zealand to recruit one -- ONE -- education officer.

Two senior Department of Education officials, including the Permanent Secretary for Education, plus the Director of Personnel Services, took this trip. That can never be justified and the Minister of Education who approved such a trip must be held accountable. Where was the Ministry of Finance that someone approved these expenses? It is a classic example of wretched excess and supports every claim made by taxpayers about Government abuse.

We do understand that the New Zealand Reading Recovery programme which was developed there is considered to be excellent. It is entirely understandable that Bermuda wanted to recruit an education officer who was familiar with a good programme thought desirable for Bermuda. But three people to look for one recruit and to ask about sending a Bermudian there for the training stipulated by the programme is obscene.

It seems to us that the public is owed an explanation of exactly why this wastage was thought necessary and who agreed that it should take place? If this excess is going on in other departments at a time when Government is pushed for cash, then it must stop now. Every complaint about Government excess seems to be confirmed by this bit of extravagance which the private sector would never approve.

In this column yesterday we said: "A basic decision was taken that the Police Service needed an overhaul. We think a very similar thing should be undertaken with the Ministry of Education.'' Many Bermudians have lost their faith in the Ministry's ability to perform in the best interests of Bermuda's young people. There is serious thinking that we should let the private sector run education in Bermuda. The mega-school plans have caused little short of panic in parents. There is a flight of students from the public education system.

There are also serious questions about the large number of people employed at the Ministry of Education and how effective the staffing really is. Now it is clear from the bad treatment of non-Bermudian teachers and from such things as this trip that there are problems other than educational philosophy.

We can only urge the new Minister, Mr. Jerome Dill, who has inherited many of these problems, to ask for the ministry to be "Coxalled''.