The argument about the siting of the Sally Bassett statue rages on with by-election candidate Raymond Davis saying it should rest in the grounds of Southampton Post Office.

The statue, depicting the burning at the stake of Sally Bassett, who had been accused of poisoning, now sits in the Cabinet grounds after Government failed to find another location.

Some historians have argued the execution happened at Crow Lane, others say it happened near Albuoy's Point.

Crow Lane was considered but Culture and Social Rehabilitation Minister Dale Butler said there was no room and there would have been uproar if the Johnny Barnes monument was removed.

And the City of Hamilton Corporation have resisted efforts to put the figure, created by Bermudian artist Carlos Dowling, at City Hall.

However Southampton West Central independent candidate Mr. Davis says his family history tells him that Sally was burned at Cobbler's Island in the mouth of Hamilton Harbour which on those days was called Crow Lane.

He said putting the statute in the Cabinet Grounds had become politically divisive but he believes the ten-foot creation should be a symbol of the races coming together.

Southampton was where Sally lived and was the last place she was seen alive before being taken by boat to be burned from a departure point near Five Star Island, said Mr. Davis, who is also known as Khalid Wasi.

"The proper spot for her is 100 yards away from there at Southampton Post Office."

Yesterday Mr. Davis went down to Cabinet Office grounds where he placed a rope around the statute and symbolically tugged it with an oar in the direction of Southampton where he believes it should be taken by boat.

He said that journey would become a ceremony of atonement for one side of the community and a ceremony of celebration for another.

Mr. Davis denied the stunt was disrespectful and said the rope was also symbolic.

"I want people to join and pull on the rope. I want her to bind everyone together, black and white, in support of atonement and come together with the rope.

"I want everyone to hold the rope and never let go. I want to take Sally Bassett out of conflict and into a place where we can all celebrate."

He said the Cabinet grounds should also be used for the message of unity by placing statues of Arnold Francis, the first leader of the Progressive Labour Party and Jack Tucker, the first leader of the United Bermuda Party.

Mr. Davis, who has argued that the current parties had an unhealthy stranglehold on the political system, was asked if making such an issue of an historical event was the way to argue for a new future.

He said: "It is indicative of my whole political agenda to bring people together."

At the moment he said Sally was a symbol of resistance to the black community and something of a hero while the white community viewed her as a criminal he labelled both as extreme views.

Sally Bassett had been owned by the estate of Francis Dickinson of Southampton. On June 1, 1730, she was tried on suspicion of poisoning several persons including Thomas Forster, who owned Sally's granddaughter Beck, his wife Sarah Forster and Nancey, a household bondswoman.

Sally was charged with giving Beck the poison that was discovered in the wall of the kitchen outlet but maintained her innocence.

Yesterday Culture and Social Rehabilitation Minister Dale Butler said Government would not be moving the statute but he urged Mr. Davis to bring him the historical evidence.

Mr. Davis denied he was grandstanding over the event. He said: "I didn't choose the date of the by-election and I didn't come up with the time the statue was erected."

The figure was given a soft opening by Premier Ewart Brown at the beginning of November, but paving work is still going on around the figure and another opening is expected later.