September 4, 2012Dear Sir,YD Millington, in a Letter to the Editor in today’s Royal Gazette seems to imply that Fiona Campbell is not honest (‘one ought to be honest about the real reasons ….”) when Ms Campbell has implied that local politics must take (some) of the blame for the reason why visitors are not coming to our islands. I cannot speak for Fiona Campbell, she is more that able to speak for herself, but there is no question of dishonesty whatsoever. What I believe Fiona Campbell was stating was her opinion — her belief. She has the right to her opinion and she is allowed to be right — or wrong. As it happens, she is right. Millington goes on about crime, the use of guns and knives and machetes, too many cars on the road etc for some of the reasons why many visitors do not want to visit Bermuda. Millington happens to be right.On an Island of 23 square miles, what a government does or does not do permeates every corner and into every household and affects every person quicker and to a greater extent than a government that is perhaps a thousand miles away. That is a part of small island life. I know this, not because I visit Bermuda but because I live here — and have done since 1944. Yes, the Government of Bermuda is responsible for the upsurge in crime, mostly by the disinterested and weak hand it has shown in dealing with the root of these problems. Also by the terrible example they have set.Am I too not ‘missing the chance to bash the ruling party’ as Millington phrases it? Where else do you look? Where does the buck stop? When the UBP party governed, the PLP blamed everything wrong or bad on the ruling party; they were the ones who had the power to correct or not to correct any perceived or real negligence or injustice. So the UBP were responsible for all the problems in our country when they ‘ruled’ — but now the PLP, who have been in power for something like 18 years, are not responsible for the ills our country? How does that work? Crime? Violence? Too many cars on the road? Taking the eye of the tourist trade? (Another good point Millington made). That is not government? Then who sets the policies? Who sets and passes the laws? (Or fails to)? Who steers the country on the direction it takes? The government.MARK EMMERSONPembroke