On Friday evening Chris Valdez Dapena made several points which, while not new, are in my view worth underscoring by repeating.

She began by being apologetic as she acknowledged and gave credit to those who had been attempting to deal with the black-and-white issue over many years.

I was struck by that comment because, unfortunately, there are younger black Bermudians who have made it very clear, as they have demonstrated repeatedly, that, with one notable exception, they do not believe that older black Bermudians have anything of value to offer.

Their contributions have often been demeaned or ignored.

Ms Valdez Dapena also expressed the view that the energy and information embedded in the emotion of those who had been involved had value. When National Association for Reconciliation was organised there were few, indeed, to whom this would apply.

Yet the Government, both past and present, has lacked this insight and shown very little interest in using either the experience or passion of those who initiated the discussion on race by establishing N.A.R.

It was inevitable that, in view of my own experience, I should have been impressed with these comments of acknowledgment from a white woman who has not lived in Bermuda very long and therefore would not be aware of the one or two who have been economically penalised and called "racist'' for raising the issue of race relations, while, at the same time, there are black Bermudian Government staff who, today, are being paid high salaries to address the issue and who have expressed more hostility than appreciation towards those who first challenged the indifference towards race relations and its social destructiveness.

The kind of contempt and indifference with which many of the older generation of blacks who helped to bring this Government to power have been treated can only be compared to the stated attitude of the John Swan administration.

Moreover, some who have benefited from this Government have had no hesitation in stating that there is really no place for the older generation of blacks in this Government or the benefits to be derived.

Of course this should not come as a surprise since this Government has simply followed the policies of the former Government in such important areas as taxation, education and others.

To follow in the matter of age discrimination -- with only one significant exception -- should not be a surprise, any more than other inconsistencies. Ms Dapena, unwittingly, reminded us that there are not only white attitudes that ensure that we make so little progress.

EVA N. HODGSON Bailey's Bay