on with constant promises of solutions but no resolution.

Both Government and the BIU appear powerless to create a solution despite the fact that there was a ruling under arbitration that Mr. Todd should go back to his boat. Mr. Todd's fellow workers have openly mocked the arbitration ruling with much success. Both before and since the ruling Mr. Todd has been unable to work because other Marine and Ports employees refuse to work with him, producing one excuse after another.

Now we have the Acting Director of Marine and Ports quoted as saying that Mr.

Todd works to the highest professional standards in everything he does and that he is being persecuted by his fellow workers. As we see it, he is being victimised for doing his job.

Mr. Todd's problems started when his tug, Faithful , took the stinking and abandoned refugee ship Xing Da from Marginal Wharf at Southside to a watery grave off the west end, despite a picket of fishermen and fishing boats. These fishermen were angry at Government over the fish pot ban and decided -- rather humorously -- to claim that the Xing Da was going to damage the reefs, reefs they had been quite happy to wantonly strip of fish. Not very many people can have taken their "environmental'' protest seriously.

Since then just about every excuse has been used to keep Mr. Todd from carrying out the duties for which he is being paid. The latest is that he is a "bully''. Yet it will not take most people long to decide that Mr. Todd is being bullied for doing his job.

The Acting Marine and Ports Director has been quoted as saying, "All these matters were aired at arbitration and it still found that Kenneth Todd should go back to his boat. It sounds like sour grapes.'' Where the charge of being a "bully'' was concerned, he pointed out that there has to be some authority on the vessel when the pilot is responsible for the safety of his crew and the boat.

It is clear that when Mr. Todd towed out the Xing Da he was doing Government's bidding. Marine and Ports management regards him as an "exceptional, dedicated pilot''. They may well have used him for the somewhat tricky business of the Xing Da simply because he was "exceptional and dedicated''.

In any working arrangement, people work with other people whom they do or do not happen to like. That does not matter in a professional situation. All that matters is that people work together and do their job well.

Arbitration came out in favour of Mr. Todd, but it does not seem to have worked. We think Government should now support Mr. Todd in the Supreme Court to seek the protection of the law under the Constitution of Bermuda. Clearly his freedoms are being breached.