about institutionalised racism.

Mr. Louis Mowbray, the bank's executive vice-president with responsibility for administration, said employers would discuss and make plans to implement recommendations made recently by Princeton University professor Dr. Carol Swain.

Invited were "all the leaders of major companies in Bermuda, both local and international'', Mr. Mowbray told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

He expected 30 to 40 people would attend the meeting, planned for Thursday or Friday at the Bank of Bermuda's head office.

Greater emphasis on Bermudianisation, diversity awareness seminars, mentor programmes and including more blacks, Portuguese, and women on corporate boards were among Dr. Swain's recommendations.

"The object is not just to talk about these things, but to move forward,'' Mr. Mowbray said.

Brought in by the Bank of N.T. Butterfield, Dr. Swain and her research associate Dr. Russ Nieli gathered information from historical documents and public opinion polls carried out by consultants Penn & Schoen.

They also interviewed about 60 people, including the Premier, Government and Opposition members, Bermuda Industrial Union president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP, educator and National Association for Reconciliation co-founder Dr. Eva Hodgson, various chief executive officers, and at least one clergyman.

"We at the Bank of Butterfield made a run of getting this going,'' said bank chairman the Hon. Sir David Gibbons. "The Bank of Bermuda has undertaken to take the next step with employers.

"If there is the support we expect, then the sensible thing would be to form a committee to decide how to approach implementing the recommendations,'' Sir David said.

"It's a joint exercise,'' Mr. Mowbray said.

While employers invited to this week's meeting were mainly large ones with more than 50 employees, all employers in Bermuda would have a chance to get involved in Dr. Swain's recommendations, he said.