In view of the mis-characterisation of my remarks in the Senate last Wednesday I would like to submit the text of my remarks on this subject as an Op Ed.

The PLP government?s comments in the Throne Speech regarding race have the clang of unmitigated hypocrisy.

This is the party, barely two years ago, whose ministers used ?Back to the plantation? rhetoric as it related to the prospect of a UBP election victory;

This is the party who referred to black opposition members as having ?suntans?; and

This is the party that elevated to cabinet and the senate a man who publicly, on the airwaves, referred to black UBP supporters as ?house niggers?.

And now they want us to believe that they want to heal racial wounds?

The truth is the PLP want to perpetuate the racial divide because they can use it as a political tool when they need it. And brother do they ever need it now, because their record of stewardship of this country has been abysmal. So they push the race button, or pull the race string, or they play their ?get out of jail free? card every time they?re in trouble on some score or other.

Black Bermudians are becoming increasingly aware these PLP leaders don?t want to heal racial wounds they are just ?playing? us. They cynically reach out and touch and attempt to manipulate that very tender and sensitive innermost spot in the psyche of every black voter who looks around him/herself and observes that there is an unequal distribution of wealth and opportunity in Bermuda and western society, based upon race.

The PLP view this innermost tender spot as a button to push to get a knee jerk reaction that suits them. The question for Bermudians is, ?How long are we going to let these cynical PLP leaders manipulate us by pressing our race button or pulling our race string??

Black Bermudians have to look at themselves in the mirror and ask is it right to be the puppets and the PLP leadership be the puppet masters. Is that the way things should be in Bermuda?

Or should we look in the mirror and say: ?I am a rational independent thinking person, and I will not be in this way!?

The UBP has enunciated practical steps to alleviate the problem of institutional racism. We?ve instituted a shadow ministry for Race and Economic Empowerment where there is no Government Ministry. We tabled draft legislation in the House of Assembly on this matter. The government has not followed our lead.

The UBP has a plan for economic empowerment as including a plan for North Hamilton. We outlined it in our election platform in 2003.

Last week David Dodwell and I outlined details of the plan to rejuvenate the North Hamilton area that utilises tax incentives for businesses building in, improving and further developing the area. We also proposed tax incentives for businesses creating new permanent jobs in North Hamilton.

The Throne Speech only merely mentions North Hamilton but there seems to be no plan. The next thing we?re likely to hear is that they are forming another think tank, or commission or committee to start thinking about it. Bermuda needs action not more committees.

@EDITRULE: