There are right things to do in difficult situations and often they are quite clear but are ignored.

A teacher who faced sexual charges was suspended from his school until the matter came to court. That seems to us to have been the correct and proper procedure. However he was found not guilty in a court of law but has not been reinstated. That seems to us to be improper.

A Pastor charged with a sexual offence was quite correctly suspended from his pastoral duties while awaiting trial but when convicted he appealed and received open backing from his political colleagues. Many people will find that quite extraordinary at this stage of the proceedings.

Legal charges of any kind, but especially charges of a sexual nature, are very difficult for an accused person and for family and friends. There is no doubt about that. But it must be remembered, especially in sexual cases, that if the offences alleged took place, they were even more traumatic for the victim and the victim's family and friends.

It seems to us that the school's removal of the teacher and the church's removal of the pastor was the correct course to take because other students in the school and other members of the church had to be protected. It would have been a horrendous situation if they had been allowed to continue in place and others became victims.

Especially when people are in positions of trust and have influence over the lives of others, they are clearly best removed from a situation of trust until the entire issue can be clarified. Some people seem to think that to do that makes them victims, but the truth is that it protects other unsuspecting people from becoming victims if the allegations are true. We think that is especially so where men are in a position of trust and influence over women and young people. If there are substantial allegations which are to be taken seriously then the person should be removed immediately.

Yet in Bermuda today we seem to be falling into the trap of blaming the complainants. We have taken legal steps to protect people yet there are examples of the victim being victimised a second time by public opinion and public behaviour. It is much easier to distrust or disbelieve the complainant victim than it is to confront an abuse of power or authority.

We are not talking about refusing to assist people who are accused, nor are we suggesting that anyone is guilty until proven innocent. But we are talking about behaving responsibly to all concerned and doing the right thing.

Too often we seem to lose sight of that in Bermuda and do the wrong things out of sympathy or even these days out of political decisions. The PLP has set a very poor example and one which must alarm the public, especially women. They openly appeared in court and expressed support for their MP after he was convicted. Surely the proper and mature course was a suspension from the party pending the result of the appeal.