take part in elections for the president of the Bermuda Public Service Association.

Selecting the president of the union at any time is an important decision for its members and the BPSA has been well served by its presidents in the past.

Indeed, the union has a reputation for making sensible agreements for its members.

These elections are even more important than usual because of Government's plans to reform the Civil Service. The reform proposals, which have still not been made public, were drawn up by experts from the UK Civil Service College.

Because they have not been made public, it is hard to say exactly what kind of president the union will need since few people outside of the top level of Government know whether the Island can expect a larger or smaller service, privatisions, or increased responsibilities for the public service.

In those circumstances, the next president of the union will have to be flexible and open-minded.

What should override all other considerations is the philosophy that the Civil Service will increasingly have to recognise that its job is to serve the public as best it can at the most reasonable cost and the president of the union needs to recognise that idea while protecting all of her members from exploitation.

In Betty Christopher and Leleath Bailey, BPSA members have two candidates who have held the job before and have performed well. Whomever wins next month's election will have to rely on all their experience and knowledge to ensure that civil servants emerge from the reform process as energetic, and enthusiastic public servants.

POLICE RECRUITS EDT Police recruits The fact that Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox has given Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay permission to start exploring options for overseas recruitment deserves qualified support as the least the Government could do.

The great worry is that it may be too little too late.

No one disputes that recruitment of Bermudians to the Police Service should always be the first priority. But the huge effort of the last year did not bring the numbers the Service needed. The time has now come, not to explore options, but to get out and find suitable officers to fill the gaps.

If not, the crime rate will continue to climb.

There is no reason why local recruiting should not continue at the same time and, as MP and former Assistant Commissioner Wayne Perinchief has pointed out, pay and availability of training could be improved to make the Police more attractive.

But the experiences of the last year show that it is unlikely Bermuda will ever be able to fully Bermudianise the service; overseas recruiting of officers, using short-term contracts if necessary, must continue at the same time.

Waiting for some kind of miracle that will see droves of qualified Bermudians line up for the service is futile in the current circumstances.