The United Bermuda Party has attacked Senator David Burch for dragging race into the debate over whether Bermuda should join Caricom - the Caribbean Community and Common Market.

In the Senate on Wednesday Sen. Burch said Bermuda had a history of being racist and discriminatory about places in the Caribbean which was also hypocritical because at the same time the country was linked up with business, tourist and union organisations in that region.

Responding to the remarks, UBP leader Grant Gibbons said: "There are enough legitimate examples of racism in this Country without Government calling people racist if they have different views. It demonstrates how far they are prepared to go to intimidate people in the community."

He said Government's efforts to publicise the benefits of Caricom in the community contradicted with Sen. Burch's tactic of labelling opponents of Caricom.

Dr. Gibbons said the Opposition had called for a joint select committee on Caricom in a bid to have a rational debate on the issue.

Party Chairman Wayne Furbert said Sen. Burch should have stuck to making an argument on the merits of joining Caricom and not sought to polarise the country by bringing race into the row.

But he admitted that there was some anti-Jamaican prejudice in the Country which was wrong.

Mr. Furbert told The Royal Gazette: "We have as a country always been taught or felt that we're better than the Caribbean but I don't believe that.

"They have some significant schools down there, good doctors, they have a culture we can envy and a festival where people come together.

"We are not better than the Caribbean. We should simply look at whether joining is in the best interests of Bermuda. It doesn't mean we should call each other names, we should respect each other's views."

He said the UBP had yet to come to a decision over the issue although former leader Sir John Swan has been vocal in his criticism claiming that Bermuda will end up bound by a harmonisation of law, tax and social security, abolition of work permits and common foreign, trade, industrial and agricultural policy within Caricom.

But asked about his own views on joining Caricom Mr. Furbert said: "I am leaning towards it but some of the comments Sir John Swan makes could be valid.

"He's been around 13 years as leader and knows the terrain with the UK and the US. Who knows if they are talking to him about it?

"So the island should be careful. So let's just get have a discussion and let us move forward as country. Let's not call people racist."

Premier Jennifer Smith has pledged Bermuda will not join the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) if it is not in Bermuda's best interests or it proves too costly.

She told the House of Assembly yesterday that the UK government had given permission for Bermuda to apply for associate membership of CARICOM provided that:

The Bermuda Government abstains on Caricom talks that effect external relations, defence or security and that they disassociate themselves from statements made by Caricom on such matters

Costs arising from Bermuda's associate membership should be borne by the Bermuda Government.

She said: "Let me reiterate, for the record, that if the conditions attached to Associate membership in Caricom are not in Bermuda's best interests or if the costs are prohibitive, we will not proceed."

Government is explaining the options about Caricom to service clubs and groups in the community through a committee headed by Health Minister Nelson Bascome.

However during yesterday's statement Shadow Tourism spokesman David Dodwell shouted that the decision to join Caricom was a "done deal".