Bermuda is not quite another world.

With crime on the increase and visitors being targeted as easy prey The Royal Gazette spoke with a some Bermudians to find out whether they thought visitors should be warned about Bermuda's crime.

Mrs. Shawnette Virgil said: "Of course they should be told because if I went somewhere else I would want to know about the level of crime in that country.

"A lot of tourists feel Bermuda is a safe place to vacation but it's not and the Department of Tourism make them believe that. They should tell them the truth.'' And Miss Wendy Powell said that visitors are lead to believe that Bermuda is the Island of paradise and nothing will happen, which is not true.

She added: "People working on the front desk at hotels should warn visitors not to leave their cash around, and cycle rental shops should warn them about keeping their bags in bike baskets.'' Mrs. Doris Bailey agreed: "If I am going to a strange country I want to be warned of any dangers before I go.'' But 25-year-old Mr. Wesley Trott said: "If the crime situation gets any worse we will have to tell visitors.

"Something will have to be done because there have been too many blatant attacks on tourists.'' Mr. Ron Sulisz 27, said he did not feel the crime in Bermuda was really bad, despite the fact that he was robbed of his cash while staying in a guest house when he arrived on the Island four months ago.

He added: "Tourists should be made aware because everyone believes Bermuda has no crime and everyone is happy.'' Mr. John Thompson 42, felt that visitors should be told about the level of crime in Bermuda.

He said: "It is wrong to hide the fact that it is here.'' Mrs. Wendy Krupp also agreed that visitors should be told but she said it should not be made a big issue.

"They should be told that the Island is not crime free, but we should not stir up a panic.'' Miss Laura Davis suggested that if visitors stay in a hotel or guest house the front desk clerks should be responsible for warning them as bike rental shops warn them to lock their bikes.

Mrs. Gail Scott said visitors should be warned in the general way such as telling them to make sure they lock their rooms or reminding them to keep an eye on their handbags.

But she added: "On the other hand if you alarm them to a greater degree they may not come to the Island at all.'' Twenty-three-year-old Lovenston Talbot also agreed that visitors should not be told about the crime level to the extent that it would scare them.

Mrs. S. Perinchief said the question of whether visitors should be told or not had a yes and no answer.

"It is a yes and no answer because for their own safety they should be told but for Bermuda's economy they shouldn't.'' Mr. Tracey Bean, 22 said visitors should not be told about Bermuda's level of crime.

He added: "Nobody is warned about Jamaica's crime or that of the US so why should we warn visitors when nobody else does.

"People normally find out through news or friends. There is no need to advertise it when promoting the Country.'' Mr. Pierce Smith said that it should be a matter for the hotels and not the Department of Tourism.

And Mr. Mark Adderley said that visitors deserve a little bit of warning "so they can take precautionary measures''.

Miss Laura Davis Mrs. Wenda Krupp Mrs. Gail Scott Mr. Ron Sulisz Mr. John Thompson Mr. Wesley Trott