Oh Danny Boy, The cries, the cries are getting louder From village to village, and throughout the nation (Sincere apologies to the Irish among us).

Every Grenadian agrees that the Governor General (GG) should have an official residence. We are also all agreed that in times of national crisis and disaster we must all join in making some level of sacrifice for the well being and rebuilding of our native land.

We were reminded that even the current monarch, whom the GG represents, drove trucks during the blitz of London during World War 11. She received no salary or wage for so doing, we are informed..

The Prime Minister - dear friend, soul mate and almost twin brother, so to speak of the GG - has called on all Grenadians to tighten their belts and make meaningful contributions, within their ability, towards the rebuilding effort.

The ravages of Hurricanes Ivan and Emily touched all of us. We considered that appeal laudable, and we supported it. Because of that exhortation, we are baffled as to why we are paying the GG to sleep in his own bed.

Why is it so painful a sacrifice for the Governor General to sleep in his bed and be not be paid for that? What is more puzzling is that the GG accepts that payment. We wonder whether payment is also made to a chambermaid to turn up the bed sheets on a daily basis.The public would see no objection to renting, now and again, the best suite in the best hotel for the rare lunch or dinner for the high-ranking dignitary or the occasional cocktail party.

Paying the Governor General to sleep in his own bed may be legal, but is it ethical? It would be less revolting if the GG, in turn, donate that money to the "Old Folks Home" of St.David's - his homeland parish.

There are other cases which may be completely legal but which the public consider unseemly. In a television debate, some years ago, between the Cabinet Adviser - often called the Prime Minister's Œpit bull - and another lawyer, on the matter of the " Dipcon" judgment, the Adviser ventured the information that the GG had given valuable assistance in preparing the brief for an appeal.

Should the GG get involved in matters that are basically the function of the Attorney General? He ought to know that as GG he has no standing before the Court, and moreover, why take sides in issues of that nature. Was he paid for his contribution, and if so, how much?

When the GG was Minister of Health in the Blaize administration his Law Office was run by his dear wife (not herself a lawyer). It was obvious to all that that arrangement opened itself to a potential conflict of interest.

That situation today, though not fundamentally dissimilar, raises some disquieting questions. Why, for instance, are most documents involving leases or sales of government's properties to private individuals are prepared in the GG's Law Office?

The Mt. Hartman deal is one such case - knowing those documents must come back to him for signature to make the transaction legal? That Caesar to Caesar appearance does not seem right.

Again, there may be nothing wrong with that arrangement but it opens itself to the perception, in the eyes of the public, of a friend washing the hand of a friend. The GG, because of his intelligence and training, should not find himself in such a situation.

Rightly or wrongly, Grenadians expect their Governors General to be as clean as a whistle, non partisan and of impeccable behaviour. Some there are who would view this article as a breach of good taste, a lack of respect for Her Majesty's Representative.

We make no apology for taking any official, including the GG, to the woodshed should we find that officer's performance to be sub-standard, and incongruous with good and sound judgment.

To whom much is given, much is expected. It is not good enough to hide behind the fact that it is legal, one must not only talk of high standards, one must tailor their actions to reflect the observance of that standard. It certainly does not appear principled to be paying someone to sleep in one's own bed.

Naming the GG's home his official residence does not make it more palatable for tax payers who must foot the rental bill. Incidentally, how soon do we expect to have that old, stately landmark building that we call Government House, repaired?

The building was, and its location is still one of the best official residences in the Caribbean.