Bermuda is still burying its head in the sand on sexual assault, according to Opposition MP Kim Young.

Ms Young spoke out after an article in yesterday's Royal Gazette highlighted a tourist who claimed she was sexually assaulted by a taxi driver whilst here on holiday.

Englishwoman Yolande Lindringe claimed she was assaulted by a cabbie, who "kidnapped'' her as she was on her way to the airport to catch her flight home.

The 49-year-old mother-of-two reported the incident to the Police over a month ago but as yet no arrest has been made.

Ms Lindringe provided Police with a picture and the name of the assailant who she says "was into all sorts of illegal sexual things''. But the Police officer she spoke with in Bermuda -- Assistant Commissioner Carlton Adams -- now refuses to take her phone calls, she says, although he told her the man was known to Police when she reported the assault.

Now Ms Lindringe's tale of terror is about to appear in the Daily Mail newspaper, one of the most widely read newspapers in the world.

"What is the problem? Why hasn't an arrest been made,'' asked Ms Young yesterday.

"Recently we've had negative press in Canada about the disgusting rape, torture and murder of Rebecca Middleton and the debacle surrounding that investigation and sentencing of the perpetrators,'' she said. "Now another story is to appear in the UK papers regarding the sexual assault of a British visitor who feels she is not being treated fairly as well -- that the "Police are dragging their feet'' in her case.'' Meanwhile, Ms Young said inaction was the only response from the authorities.

"There is a deafening silence from the Premier, the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Tourism on this issue of sexual assaults against visitors and women in general.'' There were 40 sexual assaults in Bermuda last year.

Ms Young said Government must amend legislation to allow women to carry protective mace or pepper sprays and must tell visitors frankly about threats to their safety.

"There has to be an improvement in our response to violence and sexual assault against women,'' she said. "Apart from the terrible trauma caused by these despicable acts against our visitors and women, stories of this kind in overseas newspapers don't paint a pretty picture of Bermuda as a safe holiday destination.'' Ms Lindringe said she was now unable to feel safe and her doctor suggested she might be admitted into a mental hospital to recover. "How would you like to come back from a holiday and have to be offered that?'' she asked.