The Commission for Unity and Racial Equality (Transfer of Functions) Act 2010 was passed in the Upper House yesterday.

The Act, which allows for CURE's dissolution and absorption into the Human Rights Commission (HRC), received full support from senators.

"It's about time," said Senator Walton Brown. "This change is long overdue. The establishment of CURE was a cynical political ploy in my opinion. One problem is that the remedy proposed by CURE was to do with individual acts of race-related activities.

"In particular those who used racial comments in public could be brought before the courts. In my view, that was cynical because those who were angry enough to make loud comments in public were young black men.

"It was all cynical but there was never a real effort to make a change. If we're serious about ending institutionalised racism we need to have a discussion. Kum by ya is nice but when you're talking about social change, kum by ya is not sufficient. I would say we have made unsufficient progress."

The takeover was first mooted in last year's Throne Speech.

In May, Culture Minister Neletha Butterfield said: "For some time now, this Government has noted with concern that there has been and continues to be a lack of progress in eliminating racial discrimination in Bermuda.

"Accordingly, a pledge was made in the 2009 speech from the Throne to undertake a thorough review of CURE, with a view to finding a new mechanism to address an issue that continues to plague this community."

Sen. Marc Bean said yesterday: "In my experience, I can honestly say that I have never felt discriminated based on race at anytime. I have never felt any man from European descent feel that he is superior to me. I wouldn't allow it because that's not the way I think. CURE moving to the HRC will not solve the vexing problem of race."

Sen. Jeanne Atherden said she supported eliminating racial discrimination on the Island but wondered if the HRC would be able to evoke change.

"They have some things that they're not able to do and by moving CURE there you get some concerns. CURE wasn't able to eliminate racial discrimination so will the HRC have that thrust upon them?"

Support was also expressed by Sen. Joan Dillas-Wright and Senate President Carol-Ann Bassett, a former CURE commissioner.