PREMIER Ewart Brown says the white community must feel "discomfort" as part of the process to heal and unite the island in the wake of one of the most divisive election campaigns ever.

And he also believes that whites do not need "a great deal of reassurance" because "the economy of Bermuda in the private sector is probably 90 per cent controlled by white Bermudians".

Dr. Brown made his remarks in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) yesterday, following the Progressive Labour Party's election triumph on Tuesday.

After declaring that most blacks voted for his party while the Opposition United Bermuda Party attracted mainly white support, the Premier was asked if he thought Government will find it difficult to unite the island.

"I don't think so, I don't think so," he replied.

"We are the Government of Bermuda. The party has won the Government. Most of the members of our party are black and most of the members of the Opposition party are white. We've lived with that. It does make the challenge larger than we would like it to be. But we think it's doable. We think we can find quiet if not harmony."

He said that this could be achieved by "having these conversations and understanding the historical context and the relationship between the history of Bermuda and present day Bermuda".

When asked what concrete steps would be taken to bring the races together, he replied: " In certain areas we will take concrete steps, for example, in seeing that businesses owned by black Bermudians are given certain compensatory types of assistance in order to play catch up ¿ that's what we are doing, we are playing catch up. We are compensating for the past."

When told by the interviewer that such a policy "clearly sends a signal to the white community and makes them feel uncomfortable in some respects", Dr. Brown replied: "This discomfort is part of the healing."

The BBC interviewer then asked: "So how are you going to reassure white people ¿ who are your people, people who you govern?"

Dr. Brown responded: "Well, we've reassured all of our people. And the white population of Bermuda really doesn't need a great deal of reassurance. The economy of Bermuda in the private sector is probably 90 per cent controlled by white Bermudians so they don't really need any economic reassurance."

Dr. Brown also dismissed allegations of corruption as part of a smear campaign against the PLP and said the biggest problem Government now faces is a failing public education system.

"There was no corruption under my Government - none whatsoever," he said when probed about the allegations.

"So allegations are free for any and all to make. But that was all part of the effort to win the government. And you will notice that it will disappear, it will evaporate now that the election is over.

"The most important one for us is education. We realise that we have a great deal of work to do. We have already begun the reform of our education system because our students were not doing well enough so that will be the primary focus our administration."

Yesterday, the Mid-Ocean News e-mailed the Premier's press secretary, asking Dr. Brown to expand on his remarks. No response was received by press time last night.

But United Bermuda Party MP and chairman Shawn Crockwell expressed concern that sections of society could be neglected by the new Government.

"Bermuda needs a Premier that will govern for all Bermudians, whether they be black or white, rich or poor, and his actions must be based on the specific needs of people as they exist or as they arise ¿ the Premier must be there for all people," Mr. Crockwell said.

"We in the United Bermuda Party are more than willing to work with the Premier to bring about healing and to close the racial chasm that existed throughout the election campaign. We also support any initiatives that address disadvantages that any groups may be experiencing, be they black or other, but our main focus is that Government should be working for all Bermudians."