A Bermudian elder statesman has thrown his support behind current United Bermuda Party leader Dr. Grant Gibbons proclaiming him to be the right man to lead the party and dismissing rumours of leadership anxiety within the UBP ranks.

Quinton Edness says it would be wrong and offensive to replace the party?s white leader with a black leader simply as a tactic to win voters.

For 30 years Mr. Edness served in Parliament and was a cabinet member for an unbroken spell between 1972 and 1998.

He has responded to reports that UBP members have been considering changing their leader, possibly for a black politician in order to win votes.

?There has been talk that certain people in the party are making a move on the leadership, but that?s not true actually,? said Mr. Edness, who retired from politics in 1998.

He is particularly perplexed at the theory that the party would improve its electability depending on the colour of the leader?s skin.

?That sort of thinking is regrettable. To have to select a leader, black or white, because of the colour of his skin and not because of his character and ability, is to perpetuate the type of negative racial thinking that has affected Bermuda for far too long.?

He told : ?It is offensive to have such thinking and it is also offensive to previous black leaders of the party and to any future black leaders of the UBP.?

Mr. Edness said leaders should be chosen on merit, never for expediency simply because of skin colour or race.

And in a letter printed in today?s newspaper, he said: ?To select a leader, black and white, because of the colour of his skin and not because of his character and ability, is to perpetuate the type of negative racial thinking that has affected Bermuda for far too long.?