Portuguese rights activist Robert Pires yesterday welcomed a decision by Bermuda College to include a person of Portuguese descent as an honourary fellow.

Bermuda Electric Light Company president Garry Madeiros became only the second person from the Portuguese community to receive the honour in 26 years.

Mr. Pires, who has complained that the college has overlooked the contribution of the Portuguese community, said the announcement was a welcome development but the college had still to address other issues.

It was unacceptable that the college did not teach Portuguese as a credit course and Portuguese culture is ignored at the institution while there is a heavy emphasis on black and African history, he said.

And he said Government had still not implemented an accord signed with the Azores government under the United Bermuda Party when Bermuda agreed to teach Portuguese in schools.

Mr. Maderios and former Spice Valley Middle School deputy principal Earl (Gabby) Hart were made honourary fellows of the Bermuda College at Commencement exercises yesterday.

Mr. Pires said he did not want to comment on whether his public agitation to get Portuguese Bermudians recognised among the honourary fellows at the College had influenced this year's selection.

He said: "Both, I am sure, are very deserving of these awards but it is momentous that Mr. Madeiros has been honoured and he should be congratulated because he is only the second Bermudian of Portuguese heritage to have been selected in 26 years and is only the second out of 58.

"Both gentlemen are very deserving, but this marks a significant progress in acknowledging the contribution of Bermudians of Portuguese heritage, not just in education, but in the community at large.

"Whether it is bigotry by commission or omission, I still have other issues with the college which have not been addressed to my satisfaction.

"The college teaches German, Spanish, French and Latin, but there are no courses in Portuguese. They did offer to do one at night school, but not for credit. And the accord between the Bermuda Government and the Azores government to teach Portuguese in schools has still not been implemented."