criticism and by the fact that today almost everything in the lives of Bermudians turns political.

The constant political tension is too pervasive in the lives of Bermudians and it is beginning to make them sour. We perceive that the young professionals between say 25 and 35 years are disillusioned and turning their backs on serving the Country. A great many older people are saying, "I've had enough.'' Those who have formed this group have clearly had enough of party politics and there are many others who feel the same way.

This reaction inevitably comes about when the people begin to think that politicians are bogged down in matters which distract them from the real business of the Country. Bermudians basically do not like constant confrontation and they want Bermuda to be run quietly, efficiently and smoothly. They need to feel that their political representatives put Bermuda first and there have been a number of well publicised events recently where politicians have clearly not put the Country first.

Can this new group succeed in getting rid of party politics? If they are realistic they know they cannot. But if they can gain some momentum they just might make some changes in the way the parties behave.

But the group should not make the mistake of complaining that the Government takes decisions in secret in Caucus and Cabinet meetings and then say that Government should be more like the Corporation of Hamilton. It certainly seems to be true that the individual members of the Corporation of Hamilton work together for the benefit of Hamilton but where secrecy is concerned they are much worse than the Government and answerable to virtually no-one.

The group's spokesman says that the Corporation of Hamilton members work together. That may be true in Hamilton but we do not know because they meet in secret. However, if what we hear is correct, that is certainly not true in the Corporation of St. George's which is said to be plagued in secret by political infighting and divided along political lines.

There are many people who are nostalgic for the days when there were 36 individuals in the House of Assembly but Bermuda was a much less complex place. It seems very clear that today 40 individuals might well subject Bermuda to far less acrimony but would probably get very little accomplished.

That would leave the running of the Country to the Civil Service who might do nothing at all but collect their salaries.