order. That may not be a small task.

The Speaker wants the political parties to use existing rules to prevent all night debates, such as we had last Friday, which stretched until after 6 a.m.

on Saturday. The Speaker is correct, of course.

Most Bermudians, when they hear of these extended debates, simply shake their heads and regard the whole thing as a bit of silliness. Clearly what is being said by MPs in the early hours of the morning cannot be very effective.

The problem is that these marathons give the public the impression that the House of Assembly is not a serious place, that it is not business-like and that MPs are involved in some sort of game played out with the public's serious business. Clearly the debate on Police Commissioner Colin Coxall's Police Service Strategy, which took place early on Saturday, was far too important to be spoken to by worn out MPs. That's a problem. Government Whip Mr. Richard Spurling is quoted as saying: "People are so tired that no one is really listening.'' Indeed, some MPs gave every impression of being asleep in their seats.

We have been led to believe that the long debate was necessary since the House of Assembly could not sit another day because of the Christmas holiday plans of members. Surely that is bad planning. Members know the House might run over and should plan accordingly. All of us are subject to changing holiday plans from time to time when important business makes demands on us. The people's business is important business which politicians are well paid to conduct. The business of the House of Assembly should come before holiday plans...especially as early as two weeks before Christmas.

Politicians are elected leaders of this Country and should always remember that. If we want the Country to be well organised and to run smoothly and if we want our young people to behave with dignity and respect then the lesson should come from the top.

A disorganised legislature sets a poor example. Confrontation in Parliament breeds confrontation in the Country. Careless use of the facts and unsupported allegations only mislead the people. A lack of respect for other Members sets an example for Bermudians that respect is unimportant.

Clearly debates with limited time and arrangements to allow a spread of speakers could improve the debates. There is a great deal of repetition in Parliament, especially in the House of Assembly, and very few members stay anywhere close to the subject under debate. Less time to ramble on might make members better prepared to debate constructively and could make the debates more specific.