Affirmative action and the creation of economic opportunities for black Bermudians is "a good thing", according to former Bermuda Sun editor Tom Vesey.

However, while focus on black economic opportunity is clearly needed, efforts to socially integrate the races are just as important ? and will help black Bermudians economically.

"I don't think we can be at peace as Bermudians or reach our true potential until we are equal," Mr. Vesey said at a meeting at the St. Paul's AME Church Hall on Tuesday night.

Organised by historian and activist Dr. Eva Hodgson and the National Association on Reconciliation, the meeting was called to discuss what Government can do to help ease the disparity between black and white Bermudians.

Citing the 2000 Census, Mr. Vesey said the disparity in wealth between blacks and whites is "way too huge".

Change, however, meant "this Government or any other government need a very clear cut vision of what they want to achieve and where they want to go.

"I don't think it's too difficult ... What we want is equality."

Once the vision is set, a government must then set themselves a timeline to help measure their progress and set standards for what they should achieve.

One area to focus on is the awarding of Government contracts, he said. Government should be ensuring black Bermudians get their fair share of Government contracts without compromising the quality of product and service.

Companies could be awarded points on criteria like making deadlines and being cost-effective, and a fair amount of points could be awarded for who the owner is ? i.e. if they are white or black.

However, the process would have to be "completely out in the open for the public to understand and accept," he said.

"That means keeping track and publicly revealing things they are not used to publicly revealing."

For example, the amount of money that goes towards black and white contractors could be made public knowledge ? an "uncomfortable" process, but necessary.

Government could also privatise where possible and favour small businesses more, designing projects in smaller bits to localise them and spread opportunities.

For example, "Berkeley ... could have been a real success story not for one black business, but for lots of black businesses."

Educational reform is another area of focus. "We shouldn't be happy until every student coming out of the public school system is demonstrably as educated as those children coming out of the private school system."

Requiring all large businesses to provide day-care was another initiative which could help black parents.

Even with all these initiatives in place, however, if the races are not socially integrated it will not be enough.

"I am convinced social integration is vital to economic equality," he said.

For example, a white employee will be more likely to hire blacks if they are less foreign. Keeping the races so separate "is going to affect hiring no matter how hard people try to be fair."

Government, with "the biggest voice in Bermuda", has a responsibility in this area also, he said, adding he would be thrilled if he saw just a fraction of the money spent on advertising ferries spent on race relations instead.

Sports and other social clubs could also be provided with incentive to get blacks and whites together with the introduction of schemes such as grants based on their ability to integrate the races.

"There's lots we can do ... We can't sit back and wait for it to happen by itself," Mr. Vesey concluded.

"Try ideas, and if they don't work, try another. The worst we can do is sit back and wait for something to happen by itself. Because it won't."