The Commission for Unity and Racial Equality wants Bermudians to recognise that racism exists and they can do something about it.

Speaking to Hamilton Rotarians at their weekly luncheon, CURE chairman Ken Spurling stressed that the group will continue to hold forums throughout the year to allow the public to voice its opinions.

The general topic of the forums will be "How Racism Affects Society'' and includes such sub-topics as education, civil and criminal laws, the economy, and housing and employment.

Young people from schools and other groups will come together with union members, PTA representatives, and a cross section of the legal fraternity.

Mr. Spurling, an executive with TeleBermuda, said the forums will be similar to others CURE has held during the past two years.

But he stressed that CURE relies on individual efforts of all Bermudians to participate in the process of using education to promote understanding and dialogue.

"People must participate in order to teach and learn,'' he said. "All forms of racism negatively affects all Bermudians directly or indirectly.'' He said black and white Bermudians need to become aware of the problem "so that we can do something about the effects of racism together''.

CURE will also continue to disseminate its Code of Practice, which Mr.

Spurling called "a common sense approach to how people should treat people in the workplace''.

More than 500 copies of the Code have been sent to local businesses after it was passed by the House of Assembly.

"We continue to conduct workshops in institutions in the private and public sectors,'' Mr. Spurling said, "to help them adopt the standards and help them to structure an internal monitoring process insuring that the standards are met.'' Mr. Spurling said most institutions have policies which mirror the Code, but "at certain levels within an institution, the practice might not match the policy''.

"If an employer sees that the ratio of black people to white people moving into management and executive positions is askew,'' he said, "they must question these numbers and ask why.'' Mr. Spurling said CURE has met people who are "in denial'' that racism exists in Bermuda and others believe that prejudice is too deeply ingrained and that nothing will be done.

"We meet people,'' he added, "who are so bigoted that they don't care to change their behaviour and attitudes.'' CURE encourages all of the people of Bermuda to support its efforts in meeting the objective of equal opportunity for all, Mr. Spurling noted.

If this is done, he added: "I believe that we would relieve most of the anxiety and resentment which causes the racial tension which exists in Bermuda today.'' DISCRIMINATION DIS