Leading Jamaican lawyer Dudley Thompson QC and former British Labour Party Leader Michael Foot will host a lecture at Bermuda College to recognise Black History Month.

The public lecture will address the topic: "Political change and its Impact on Developing Countries''.

The College has organised the lecture, to be held on February 7 at the North Hall Lecture Theatre from 7 p.m., in conjunction with the Ministry of the Environment.

Vice President of the College Donald Peters said that while the College had not previously celebrated Black History Month, he believed the "topic is indeed timely as Bermuda has only recently had a change of Government''.

"We believe that Bermudian students in particular, and black people in general, need to recognise the contributions of their brothers and sisters all over the Diaspora and as an academic institution we believe it is our responsibility to ensure that our students and all Bermudians are familiar with the history and legacy of the struggles of black people,'' Dr. Peters said.

With their shared knowledge of global politics well known, the College considered Mr. Thompson and Mr. Foot ably qualified to open public dialogue on the subject of political change in Bermuda.

Mr. Thompson, a Jamaican Rhodes Scholar, has held various government positions in Jamaica, including a member of the Senate, several Ministerial posts and the presidency of the Jamaica Bar Association for many years. He received The Order of Jamaica, one of Jamaica's most prestigious decorations for distinguished service in the field of international affairs. He has also made contribution to the legal development of Jamaica.

He has represented Jamaica at numerous overseas conferences and is regarded as an intellectual and long-standing Pan-Africanist who worked with world leaders such as George Padmore, Kwame Nkrumah, C.L.R. James and Julius Nyerere to further the struggle for black liberation.

Mr. Foot has been described as "an accomplished politician, a trenchant orator and a devoted socialist''. Prior to his involvement in British politics, Mr. Foot was Editor of London's Evening Standard newspaper.

Over recent decades Mr. Foot has relentlessly fought the spread of nuclear weapons, pursued the cause of devolution in Britain and has been a vocal commentator on the changing role of the European Community in British politics and international affairs.

Although retired, Mr. Foot continues to write, lecture, publish and campaign for global human rights.

Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson, himself a Rhodes Scholar, noted that both Mr. Thompson and Mr. Foot have been involved in political change in their respective countries.

He said the topic should interest all who were concerned about environmental issues as a geo-political development of the economy impact on the environment.

BERMUDA COLLEGE EDC