Government Senator Walton Brown yesterday called on the Opposition to hold the Governor to account for Bermuda's policing after the weekend shootings.

He said the Opposition normally went straight to the top when holding people accountable for the Island's woes and the policy should apply across the board.

He said Governor Sir Richard Gozney had not demonstrated a keen understanding of the crisis Bermuda faced nor had he coordinated a robust response.

Sen. Brown told the Upper House yesterday: "That's why when there was a problem with tourism they called for the Minister of Tourism to be sacked.

"It is disingenuous for the Opposition to not identify the Governor as being responsible for dealing with the issues that need to be dealt with that fall under his remit. We have people walking around with guns.

"It requires a firm response, we have not seen that demonstrated yet. If it was a Government minister we would have been called to task."

Opposition Senator Michael Fahy said the response to escalating violence should be two-pronged with a zero tolerance to crime but also encouraging young people through good parenting, sports and other healthy pursuits. He said: "You wake up and wonder whether you are living in Bermuda or another country.

"It is unacceptable people cannot even go into a shop, you have people jumping over the shelves to escape getting shot at."

United Bermuda Party Senate Leader Michael Dunkley wondered whether enough resources were being given to the Police. He said people were altering their routines because they were afraid of going to certain areas. And Sen. Dunkley said the recent gun slaying would resonate around the world and make Bermuda's tourism an even tougher sale amid the downturn.

He said a recent survey showed 35 percent of Americans were not intending to take a holiday this year.