Opposition MPs called for Government to take a tougher stance on crime during Friday's motion to adjourn in the House of Assembly.

But Acting Home Affairs Minister Renee Webb responded to the calls by saying that Bermuda's crime problem "isn't that bad'' and that responsibility for dealing with it does not rest solely on the shoulders of Government but on "each and every Bermudian''.

The exchange, in which several MPs from both sides of the House participated, was sparked off by Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell's reference to what he called a recent "mini-crime wave'' against tourists staying in the Island's hotels.

He described recent robberies at his own cottage colony, The Reefs, had left visitors there feeling "violated''.

And he pointed to comments placed on a Bermudian web site (www.bermuda.com) by tourists who were upset at their belongings being robbed from their rooms.

One angry person said residents displayed a "let's hide it'' attitude and "have their heads buried in that beautiful pink sand'' instead of acknowledging the "major crisis'' that is facing Bermuda.

Mr. Dodwell said: "The impact that these crimes have on us is really resounding and we really need to pay fresh attention to it.'' He called the incidents of hotel robbery crimes "not just against individuals but also against our economy because all of these people are going back to the US and describing their experiences''.

Mr. Dodwell said he felt that "while the tourism industry is doing its best to remarket Bermuda's image overseas, this is all being completely undone by the few people here who are doing these deeds again and again.

"As a hotel owner, I know that we are notified by letter when these habitual offenders come out of jail,'' he continued, "but I'm afraid this just isn't enough. We really have to put some thought into what needs to be done.'' Adding that is was time to "talk tough'', Mr. Dodwell referred to the crime problem in Jamaica, which, according to him, had caused the creation of completely self-contained hotel resorts in which tourists were kept safe behind enclosing walls.

"I don't want to see that happen here,'' he said, "and its time we recognised that these crimes are crimes against not just one person but every Bermudian.'' Mr. Dodwell suggested three ways that crimes, especially against tourists, could possibly be brought down.

"Firstly we need tougher sentences. It needs to be two strikes and you're out. Next we need to develop a way of tracking repeat offenders even after they've been released from prison.'' He put forward the idea that habitual thieves be made to wear "tracking bracelets around their ankles''.

Finally, Mr. Dodwell requested that a specific task force for this type of crime be created, who would "sit down and discuss what the impact of these crimes are'' and develop plans of action on how else to deal with them.

Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Michael Dunkley was the next to speak.

Holding up print-outs of the tourists' Internet complaints, he said: "All the tourist road shows we might have are not a 100th as powerful as this stuff right here.'' He continued: "Let's face reality. It doesn't matter one bit whether we agree with these comments or not. The fact is, the Internet is a powerful tool and people are going to pay attention to them.'' Mr. Dunkley said he felt Government needed to take "some action'' as "crime and drugs continue to ruin the moral fabric of our society.'' In a fiery response, Acting Minister for Home Affairs Renee Webb called both MPs' comments an "exaggerated'' and "misrepresented'' version of the facts.

"Bermuda does not have a mammoth crime rate compared to many other places, but even so, they must realise that we can't just wave a magic wand and make it disappear.'' Ms Webb added that she felt "this Government should not be held completely accountable for the comments of a few people on the Internet''.

"The crime problem is not just our responsibility but the responsibility of each and every Bermudian, of the entire country,'' she said.

"I know the part I'm playing,'' Ms Webb continued, "and the types of people I want to listen to aren't those who are just whining and complaining but those with constructive ideas and solutions.'' Comments also came from PLP backbenchers Wayne Perinchief and Dale Butler .

Mr. Perinchief called crime "a matter for everyone'', stating that the Bermuda Police Service was currently "undergoing stress and rebuilding'' right now.

"We need to upgrade many of the things we do,'' he said "but most of all, we need to take a sober approach and make a collective, collaborative effort against crime.'' Mr. Butler agreed that a "cooperative effort'' needed to be made, noting that he did not want to see crime "be one of the wood worms which rots Bermuda as a country from the inside out''.

The next thoughts came from Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon , who presented the opinion that "it's time to stop bickering and to start coming together to work out some real workable solutions for the problems of crime''.

"My colleagues were not trying to say it was solely the PLP government who were to blame for this rise in crime.'' she continued, "They were just pointing out that we have a serious problem that has the potential to hurt everyone in that it could damage tourism.'' "Our lives and viability are at stake here and I call upon the Government to start taking a serious, vibrant attitude to carrying out their responsibility,'' Ms Gordon said.