April 8, 2002

Dear Sir,

Just saw your two recent articles on the youth gangs in St. George's.

All I can say is what has happened to Bermuda? My family and I have been happily vacationing on your island for over 30 years. We had always felt very safe there.

In fact, I always breathed a sigh of relief when I escaped the feeling of crime in the US to come to a quiet, clean place of relaxation with the great heritage of the British traditions. Bermuda was always a classy place with a refined and polite population. Now, if I return to Bermuda, I will have to worry about crime too... ahhh !

Why don't your police crack down on these kids. Why doesn't Bermuda have ZERO tolerance with crime. If the police don't take a stand now and show who is in charge, crime will get out of hand.

This is not a time for permissiveness. If the Government doesn't come down hard on crime, it will destroy your tourist industry. I currently live in Houston, Texas, but for years my mother and father flew down from NY to Bermuda for a holiday.

I can't believe this is happening to my beloved Bermuda. When your Governor was murdered years ago, the Bermuda government was swift to take action. Now it is the time for strong action again, to save everything that is wonderful and unique to this beautiful island.

If you would like, you can pass my comments on to your Department of Tourism, as I will carefully reconsider any future trips to Bermuda.

DIANE J. LINDENBERGER