The Front Street stabbing of a tourist on Monday is a "calling card of our failure", says the National Liberal Party (NLP).

A statement from the party's vice-chairman Graeme Outerbridge said that Police action against illegal gaming machine parts represented misplaced priorities.

"The Bermuda Police has a 60 man task force worrying about gaming machine parts and there are not enough Police foot patrols in Hamilton. The gaming machine issue is a waste of time," Mr Outerbridge says.

"The flawed law allowing them to stay simply put the matters in motion concerning the parts. Gambling should be legalised no matter if it's Crown and Anchor, Bingo or other games of chance. Set a good example and stop the hypocrisy. Bermudians want better community policing in our parks on the Railway Trail and on our streets."

He accused the Government of "gambling with our very future" with its "softly softly" approach to crime.

"There has been a significant deterioration of Bermudian regard for civil law and illegal hard drug impact on our society continues. Loading up the Island with contract workers and ignoring the increasing rate of decline of the Bermudian family is to ignore the obvious."

The statement went on to say that an emphasis on economics as opposed to social policy is "tearing the social fabric of community to shreds".

"If everything in Bermuda is about money and business, those that cannot be used are simply discarded. The fruits of no social policy to build community strength and values, are criminals that do not care about anything including life. The stabbing on Front Street is a calling card of our failure."

But Shadow Minister of Labour Patricia Gordon-Pamplin blamed bad attitudes for the messages that are perceived in the community.

"When key Government members espouse that they don't care what certain segments of our society think, that attitude is easily adopted by people who share those sentiments.

"That attitude transcends into having total disregard for not only the thoughts, but the rights of individuals, and ultimately impacts on safety."

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin called on Government to put forth an "all-embracing message so we can all live together in harmony".

And a long-time visitor to the Island, Diane Lindenberger, said reading about the incident on the The Royal Gazette web site has caused her to re-think her decision to visit the Island next May.

"I was just shocked so much that I had to make a long distance to call to find out what happened," she said.

Ms Lindenberger, who had been vacationing in Bermuda for the past 30 years questioned whether she and her 81-year-old mother would be safe.

"If we go down to the Carriage House in St. George's, will we be attacked by gangs?" she asked. "When we go to Trimingham's, so we have to wonder whether or not we'll be stabbed in broad daylight?"

But while she said she would have to heavily weigh the decision whether or not she will visit next year, Ms Lindenberger said she hoped the Police and the Government will get a tight grip on crime.

"You have to guard Bermuda. It's such a gem," she said. "I don't want it to become like the States, that's why we come to Bermuda."