discrimination in the world, according to a senior civil servant.

But Human Rights Commission executive officer Kenneth Dill believes that while the laws have been passed, individuals still need to be vigilant in order for discrimination to eventually be uprooted.

Speaking at the sixth annual awards banquet of the National Association for Reconciliation on Saturday night, Mr. Dill said: "Human rights legislation has been put in place and it's very effective -- there are some people here who can attest to that.

"But the Act cannot do it on its own -- it takes the community to make it effective. It takes people who are committed and it takes courage to stand up and be counted.

"The Human Rights Commission is making an effective difference in this community. Since it was formed, 4,265 people have complained to the Human Rights Commission. Last year there were 849 complaints and in November of last year, as a result of the number of complaints and increase in investigations, the Government saw fit to give the Human Rights Commission another investigating officer.'' Mr. Dill, who has worked for the Commission for the past ten years, went on to say that discrimination was becoming increasingly difficult to detect.

"At one time there was overt discrimination but now it's gone underground and it's difficult to substantiate,'' he said. "We need to get to the root of the problem. One must be ever vigilant that protection is there.'' At the banquet, held at the Sonesta Beach Hotel and attended by several politicians, including Development and Opportunity Minister Jerome Dill, scholarships were awarded to Nathan Dill and Lloyd Petakin.

And the Masterworks Foundation received the NAR Annual Award for its work in bridging the gap between Bermuda's different communities.