against visitors should be taken seriously by every person who cares about the tourism industry -- and that should mean every person in Bermuda.

Nothing will damage Bermuda's reputation for safety more quickly than the recent spate of crimes against visitors.

These have run the gamut from the sadly almost mundane burglaries of tourism accommodations and, more recently, the handbag snatch from a horse and carriage which resulted in a visiting couple experiencing a terrifying and potentially life threatening ride.

Bermuda's reputation has already taken a battering as a result of the murder of Rebecca Middleton and its aftermath.

But less violent crimes also take a toll. Every time a bag is snatched, a room is burgled or a wallet or bag is stolen from a beach towel, another visitor leaves the Island never to return.

And when they get home, they tell their friends: "Don't go to Bermuda, it's too dangerous. They say there is no crime, but look at what happened to us.'' On Friday in the House of Assembly, Members of Parliament go up one by one to decry the damage being done to the Island. Mr. Allen called it "a dagger at the heart of the economy'' and raised the unhappy vision of tourism resorts becoming "armed compounds'', Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox said one crime against visitors was one too many and Opposition MP Michael Dunkley said tourism crime would make all the Island's overseas marketing meaningless.

All were right. Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell went a step further and suggested a solution when he said the time may have come to increase the penalties for people convicted of crimes against visitors.

Many people will oppose this idea, questioning why a crime against a visitor should be considered to be more serious than a crime against a resident.

But tourism, which is in enough trouble already, is Bermuda's lifeblood. The hurt and injury to a single person is serious enough, albeit no different than the pain caused to a person who has their home burgled.

But the damage caused to the rest of the community is impossible to measure.

What is clear is that every incident makes the tourism industry's recovery much harder. For that reason, increased penalties should be seriously considered.

GOOD TEACHERS EDT Good teachers Education Minister Sen. Milton Scott's call for more accountability from teachers and principals has drawn a strong response from the Bermuda Union of Teachers.

The concerns of Sen. Scott's former union colleague, Michael Charles, come down to two issues: who is going to hold the Ministry of Education accountable, and if teachers are given the tools, then they can do the job.

There is some merit in this, especially for the good teachers who spend their own money to buy extra supplies for their classrooms, continue to train and learn at their own expense and on their own time, and always go the extra mile.

Presumably these are not the teachers who will be drummed out of the profession for failing to mark homework or for falling asleep in class.

But they deserve some credit too. Sen. Scott could consider a bonus for "super teachers'' and "super principals'' whose students consistently return above average grades and win public competitions. Sen. Scott is right to hold poor teachers and principals accountable -- but he should consider rewarding those who are an example to their colleagues as well.