Government MP Zane DeSilva has hit out over calls from the Voters Rights Association for the black power salute to be banned.

This newspaper reported last week that the VRA made the call in a written submission to British MPs.

As well as listing VRA goals such as a voters bill of rights and fixed term elections, co-chairman Geoffrey Parker Sr also launched a lengthy attack on the Ewart Brown Government in the letter to the Foreign Affairs Committee which is reviewing Britain's Overseas Territories.

He called for confirmation that the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights applies to Bermuda which, he said, stated that any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.

He wrote: "We recommend that Bermuda adopt the UK's position on the promotion of swastikas, black power salutes, cross burning and other demonstrations of political hatred."

This newspaper reported how some observers believe Premier Ewart Brown gave black power salutes in the lead up to the election.

However, during the Motion to Adjourn debate in the House of Assembly, Mr. DeSilva accused this newspaper of "trying to divide the country" by reporting on the move by the VRA.

"If they don't know, I must state publicly that for over 40 years the Progressive Labour Party started every meeting with a prayer and the party creed," he said, explaining this was the explanation behind a picture of Dr. Brown with his fist in the air.

"I would like to conclude by including the Voters Rights group in this same request."

Mr. DeSilva went on to state later: "I hope now I've brought this to the fore maybe the editor might want to do an editorial on it, about the PLP and our party creed. Bermudians certainly know now what that picture of Premier is, what it means. Maybe what the team and editor don't like is the two words that represents — and that's black power."

The motion to adjourn then became a hodgepodge of concerns with topics raised such as the hospital, the safety of construction cranes and the ease of telephone answering messages.

Health Minister Nelson Bascome responded to concerns raised by shadow Minister Louise Jackson about the hospital and the introduction of the hospitalist programme.

He said: "It's not about intimidation. Hospitalists are there to assist not only the client and the patients, but the doctors.

"The hospitalists and the GPs have to work together."

The hospitalist programme will use a small team of specialists, who will be assigned to patients when they enter the hospital.

Rather then the current situation which means GPs try to handle both their clients in hospital and in their offices, the hospitalist programme will free-up the GP's.

The option to have a hospitalist is still optional.

Government MP Walter Lister added his support for the hospital adding it should be a topic that brings the Government and opposition together. He said: "I have recently had to use the hospital and I want to give them high marks. The hospital should bring people to gether and provide suggestions"

Then Opposition MP Grant Gibbons raised concerns about the construction cranes after at least two people died in an Upper East Side crane fell and killed two people.

He said: "We need to look at those practices in Bermuda. We have had some accidents with cranes here over the years."

Opposition MP Darius Tucker said he was concerned that telephone calls were not getting returned and that automated services were too confusing for seniors.

Finally Deputy Premier Paula Cox said the Island needed to acknowledge it had weaknesses, but the challenge was overcoming those.

She said: "A focus has been on one issue. As a community we need to look at hoe to deal with unmet needs.

"Bermuda has to keep reinventing itself if it wants to be competitive. While we lament and mourn those areas where there are difficulties there are areas we should celebrate and applaud."