Planned legislation allowing cruise gambling in port is shaping up to be a referendum on whether the Premier as Tourism Minister has the confidence of the House of Assembly.

PLP chairman Mr. David Burt would have you believe the legislation is a referendum on cruise ships and Bermuda. If the gaming bill is defeated, he implies, cruise ships will stop coming to Bermuda and our tourism industry will become even worse off than it is.

We don't see it that way.

In fact we totally reject Mr. Burt's conclusion, which appeared in this space yesterday. It was a classic example of political fear-mongering and a cynically worded effort to mislead and distort.

Readers of Mr. Burt's column, for example, would be forgiven for thinking that the Corporations of St. George and Hamilton and the Chamber of Commerce want cruise ship gambling in port. In fact, not one of these organisations has taken an official position on the issue.

Readers would also be forgiven for thinking the United Bermuda Party is "the only thing" standing in the way of cruise ship casinos operating on Front Street. Last I heard, the PLP won a majority government in 2007, giving it the power to pass legislation. Then how is it that the 13 UBP MPs control the 36-seat House of Assembly on this issue? The fact is that Government backbench MPs do not support the Premier's legislation. They stand in the way of his plan.

Our opposition to the Bill starts with the fact that it discriminates against our own people – allowing cruise companies gambling operations while prohibiting Bermudians from doing the same. Indeed, the Government moved aggressively a few years ago to shut down gaming machines on Front Street, where it now would give cruise ships the go-ahead to do the same.

Legislation should not create double standards. As my colleague Mr. Mark Pettingill said in the House last March: "We are affording different treatment to different persons, mainly on the basis of the place of origin – the owners of the ship as opposed to Bermudians."

This is also an economic issue. Local night spots need all the support they can get. The Premier said cruise ship casinos on Front Street will improve Bermuda's nightlife, but that thinking makes no sense given that the whole idea of keeping cruise ship casinos open in port is to keep cruise ship passengers spending their money on board instead of in local night spots.

Ultimately, this debate is a reflection of the total mess the Premier has made of Bermuda's cruise ship policy.

A few years back he phased out a dedicated cruise ship for Front Street. Small ships were on the outs and mega ships were on the way, necessitating the $80 million construction of new piers at Dockyard.

When local businesses complained about lost business, the Premier secured more Hamilton visits for 2009 and a dedicated ship for 2010. Size, it seems, was not a disqualifier after all. Indeed the new cruise company, Holland America, was "delighted" to be returning to Bermuda. But now we hear its plans for 2011 may hinge on the vote for in-port gambling. We also hear that Norwegian Cruise Lines may reduce its stays at Dockyard by a night if Bermuda doesn't allow it.

I don't blame cruise companies for pushing an issue that can improve their bottom lines. They are in the business to make money and that's what they are trying to do. But someone on this side of the table – most likely the Premier – led them to believe that they could get gambling in Bermuda. Promising concessions before deals are sealed is just bad business, and Bermuda's negotiating position has been weakened by it. Cruise companies arm-twisting Bermuda is what follows.

This mess surrounding this issue is compounded by the fact that we have a "task force" investigating the pros and cons of casinos in Bermuda. Why the Premier thought there was no need to extend the study to ships is beyond me. We believe the issue of shipboard gambling should be folded into the larger study so we can put the whole question of gambling in Bermuda to the people for consideration.

Gambling is a divisive issue; feelings about it run strong. The Premier should respect people's concerns and not try to bring gambling to the Island through the back door, or the gangplank as is the case.

Let the people decide the issue once and for all after a period of information and debate. Then we can proceed on the basis of a 'national' decision – possibly through a referendum.

In the meantime, let's not sell Bermuda short. We don't need to be stampeded into a decision on this issue by cruise lines, the Premier or his spokesmen. Have more faith in the island's ability as a cruise destination. If this legislation is a decider for these companies, then they'll have to do whatever is right for them. I don't think they'll have much luck down south, though. Islands there don't allow cruise ships to keep their casinos open while they're in port.

This opinion was written by Senator Michael Dunkley, Shadow Minister for Tourism.