A forum to promote economic power in the black community kicks off tonight with a panel of speakers promising to not only shed light on issues but also offer concrete solutions to making sure this sector of the population gets its fair share of the Island's wealth.

The Black Alliance is holding its forum at 7 p.m. in St. Paul's Centennial Hall with the theme "The Next Step... Economic Empowerment" and hopes to draw in between 300 and 400 members of the public to this free event.

"There will be a proposed action plan towards the economic development of the black community in particular," said conference organiser and speaker Claudette Fleming, seniors activist. "We've got a great response and I think there is going to be a reasonably good turn out."

Mrs. Fleming is keeping the topic of her speech well under wraps as is Senator Calvin Smith, the other keynote speaker for the evening.

But she did say: "There are serious issues facing Bermuda and the black community. It is up to us to take the initiative to address our own issues and this will be a benefit to the entire country.

"We need to have some time to talk to us."

The event will also have as panellists former premier and businessman Sir John Swan, managing partner at Ernst & Young Anthony Joaquin, community activist Dr. Pauulu Kamarakafego (Roosevelt Brown), general manager of the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation, Neville Grant and community activist and businessman Cromwell Shakir.

"What the forum does is really facilitate some public discussion... There are no easy answers and no magic wand," said Mr. Joaquin.

"We want to dispel some of the rumours. We will not provide a panacea, but it will allow for a balanced debate and help raise the public consciousness and help to educate. And from this we will be able to draw conclusions based on fact rather than on rumour or conjecture."

Organisers said that the event came out of a meeting in April this year with the intention of "establishing a dialogue in the black community". This became known as Black Agenda 2003 and from this the Black Alliance was born, according to Ms Fleming.

A Press release from the organisers said: "Immediately after the evening if the event (in April) these individuals realised that the soul of the community had been touched. It was evident that there was a need to continue the momentum that was initiated that to work collectively to mobilise the black community toward an action plan of empowerment and the Black Alliance was born."

The Black Alliance steering committee is made up of George Scott, Eugenie Simmons, Claudette Fleming and Gavin Smith.

"The Alliance is currently developing an organisational structure that will give voice to the issues that impact the black community and provide a vehicle for our very diverse community to work collectively in a non-partisan manner to resolve the challenges that impact our communities and the country," added the release.

"We encourage families, friends and all interested persons to join these efforts as we work towards uniting, strengthening and empowering the black community."