of some of the residents polled by The Royal Gazette in Hamilton yesterday on the state of race relations in Bermuda.

Pointing to the controversial Miss Bermuda Islands contest, they said that too often racism is brought up as the root of a problem when it is not. Some of the pageant's judges were called racists after choosing a white winner.

Most of those spoken to said that while they did not think relations between blacks and whites were deteriorating, but they were not getting any better.

The person who was most positive about the state of race relations in Bermuda was a recent graduate of Warwick Academy, a school whose student population has about an equal number of blacks as it does whites.

Mr. Cori Broadbelt cited this as the reason his friends are not predominantly one colour.

"I went to Warwick Academy and grew up with an equal number of whites and blacks. And now my friends are both (races), he said. "I think (race relations) are pretty healthy here. And I think they are getting better.'' Mrs. Lora Forbes, who has lived here two years, said the Miss Bermuda Islands controversy was the first indication she had that racism between blacks and whites exists on the Island.

She said a more obvious problem is the apparent racism between non-Bermudian residents and Bermudians. "One need only read the letters to the editor of The Royal Gazette to see this,'' she said.

Mr. Michael Lee said he also felt there was more racial discord between Bermudians and non-Bermudians, than between blacks and whites.

And Mr. Drew Douglas said: "Racism in Bermuda goes either way. I think there are a lot of blacks who treat whites poorly, and vice versa.'' Mr. Douglas pointed to the Miss Bermuda Islands contest as an example that racism is thriving.

Mr. Leroy Tucker and Ms Deborah Caines were both positive about race relations.

"I do not have a problem with racism myself and I think things are getting better,'' he said.

Ms Caines said: "I feel the same way. Things have improved in the workplace, especially in insurance companies and restaurants.'' However, Ms Malika Watson did not think race relations were in good shape at all.

As an example she said there were "more whites at the top'' in the international business sector. She said she thought race relations were currently stagnant.

Both Mr. Dave Avery and Miss Karen North said race relations might improve significantly if people stop making race an issue when it is not.

He added: "I think Bermudians have too much of a `do as I please attitude' and don't try hard enough to get on with people of a different race if they don't want to.'' Mrs. Queenae Joell called on people to see past a person's race. "People look at the colour, not the person,'' she said.

Miss Jane Wright agreed: "There is too much emphasis on colour and race and this is making it an issue when in fact it is not. I find it particularly disturbing to keep reading letters to the editor on racism. People should just be people, not their colour.'' Miss Lisa Mello said she felt one of the biggest causes of racism was ignorance. And she said reports in the Press on racism, like the Miss Bermuda Islands stories, made the problem worse.

Mr. Kenneth Darrell called on people to "communicate more and unite''. He said many of his friends were concerned about race relations.

Miss Shonette Wilson said she believed race relations were healthy but conceded they may only look that way because there is a lot of racism that is hidden.

Mr. Cori Broadbelt Ms Deborah Caines Ms Malika Watson Mr. Dave Avery Miss Jane Wright Mr. Kenneth Darrell.