August 27, 2012Dear Sir,The article “1% fall in visitor arrivals” is another attempt to whitewash the desperate efforts by the present Tourism Minister to cover all or some mistakes, not only from the “plp” (written small — on purpose!), but also the stinking attitude of not all, but a lot of people, who are in touch with the arriving sun seekers and Island lovers — bus drivers, ferry terminal employees, vagrants and of course, high prices! Try an order of "fish and chips ... give me an average price ... $18-20 ... am I too low?When they, very short-sightedly, doubled the ferry fares ... it wasn't only the locals who were disgusted. But it is all ammunition, not only for the tourists to take home and spread the news ... the disgusted fed-up locals also keep in touch with their families and friends abroad and have nothing positive or only very little to report.Now, when you tell one person something negative ... he/she will tell seven others ... and they each will tell others, that's 49, now these 49 will each tell 7 of their friends their Bermuda experience, that's almost 350 ... some might even add something ... You get my drift ... the axle of the cart is almost below the mud level. Now what?I was accosted from the old "Masters " to the "Hamilton Princess " on Front Street on two consecutive days by the same guy!"Gimme five dollars!"Now, what kind of picture does that create in the minds of many? And the stories are many.Two weeks in Bermuda and I never saw a walking policeman, not like in the old days.WERNER ROST