Tumim Report.

The Hon. John Stubbs (UBP) said he was concerned about the term institutionalised racism.

"I don't find that a useful concept,'' Dr. Stubbs said.

Taking from the Dean Witter company advertisement, he said: "I measure racism one bigot at a time''.

However, Dr. Stubbs said: "There is covert racism and there are contributing factors -- some of which I'm beginning to understand in my old age''.

He said one of those factors was a "substantial lack of cultural integration''.

"So few Bermudians can claim they have close friends of the opposite race,'' Dr. Stubbs said. "This threatens the integrity of the social fabric of the Country.'' He said while attitudes could not be legislated, a "serious analysis, proper and frank discussion, and maybe corroborative planning'' was needed to deal with the Island's race problems.

But Dr. Stubbs said Bermudians were equipped to deal with this and the UBP was "the best, integrated institution in Bermuda''.

His comments were challenged by Mr. Eugene Blakeney (PLP) and other Opposition MPs who noted Judge Tumim's definition of institutionalised racism.

"Institutional racism is not the same as individual racism,'' Mr. Blakeney said, reading from the Tumim report. "Individual racism is based on attitudes and misinformation about other groups.

"Institutions do not have attitudes but they do have policies, practices and traditions.

"Some of these may form the part of written constitutions, mission statements etc. for everyone to see. However, there are often unwritten policies, practices and traditions that are subtle, which have the effect of keeping certain groups out of the institution.'' He noted that Judge Tumim also warned: "When several institutions combine, either by agreement or accident, to maintain the advantage of one ethnic group at the expense of all others then racism becomes a part of the fabric of the social system.'' "Institutionalised racism is probably the backbone of the problems that we have,'' Mr. Blakeney said. "It's very clear from the report that we have been able to counter open racism, but subtle racism practices continue.'' Giving an example of such racism, he said very few Bermudians, black or white, held management positions in hotels.

Stonington Beach, which has existed for about a decade, had just hired a young Bermudian female as assistant manager to the general manager.

And contradicting comments made earlier by Mr. Woolridge, he said Elbow Beach did not have a Bermudian general manager.

Mr. Blakeney stressed Bermudians needed to read about the greatness of all races and respect each other as humans.

Noting that Works Minister the Hon.Clarence Terceira accused the PLP of making no attempt to integrate, Mr. Blakeney said whites -- such as Mr. Alex Outerbridge, Stuart Outerbridge, Mrs. Dorothy Thompson and Dr. Barbara Ball, who had the courage to join the party, were soon ostracised.

He said while a significant percentage of blacks joined the UBP because blacks are racially tolerant, most whites did not join the PLP out of fear of being ostracised.

"Hopefully after this debate we will be realistic with one another and really have Bermuda for the Bermudian, white, black and any other colour.'' Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul said he supported the Tumim report and its definition of institutionalised racism.

He said he also understood most of the Opposition members conviction on the subject.

"I stand here as one of those little white byes that represent the 15 percent of (white Bermudians).'' While adding he grew up back-of-town on Elliott Street and remembered whites and blacks worshipping and playing separately, Dr. Saul said he was upset to hear the word "hate'' used repeatedly in last week's debate.

"They were not balanced by words like love, empathy, and understanding,'' he said. "That upset me as a Bermudian trying to do his best here.

"I accept that institutionalised racism is a major problem facing Bermuda today and it does and should upset members. But certainly we have moved a long way.'' Dr. Saul said racism should be addressed with "open minds'', "not by looking backwards''.

"When considering the Tumim Report we need to look forward,'' he said. "This report is simply another milestone for Bermuda brought to this House by the Government -- albeit after listening to people.'' Dr. Saul stressed the UBP was determined to bring the issue of eliminating racism forward.

"Government in bringing this (report) forward is showing yet again its determination to do something about covert racism,'' he said. "It is a cancer. It is bad, it is there and needs to be cut out. But this must be done slowly.'' As a relatively new UBP MP, Dr. Saul said he hoped that meant he brought no "baggage that older members tend to''.

He also noted that he represented a majority black constituency -- Devonshire South, which he said mirrors the population at large.

"The UBP probably represents the most unified, racially-balanced group in Bermuda,'' he added.

But Mr. David Allen (PLP) said the fact that institutionalised racism still existed after close to 30 years of a UBP Government was an indictment on the party's rule.

"And if we have to look at the people of this Country as a jury,'' he said, "I don't think they will have any choice but to deliver a verdict of guilty and intentional neglect.'' Mr. Allen said in order to deal with racism, there must be electoral reform.

"If we truly had a flat playing field -- one man, one vote, it would be a nail in institutional racism's coffin and will also mean death for the UBP Government,'' he said.

As Shadow Tourism Minister, Mr. Allen questioned why Bermudians, such as former Bermudiana employee Mr. Toby Dillas, were not promoted to management positions in hotels.

He also noted there are several Bermudians successfully managing hotels overseas, while they could not get a management position in local hotels.

Mr. Allen also accused the UBP of manipulating Immigration policies and allowing more white foreigners than blacks into the country to preserve its "political supremacy''.

"We still have hundreds of white non-Bermudians voting in Bermuda,'' he said.

This, he said, was undermining Bermudians, particularly black Bermudians, and contributed to the overall problem of racism in Bermuda.

And he added: "A great sum of whites in Bermuda vote for the United Bermuda Party because they see it as the instrument to maintain the predominance of whites in the economic and political process.'' "This,'' Mr. Allen concluded, "is why we have the polarisation of races in Bermuda.'' He said the Premier is "controlled'' by whites, who make up a majority of voters in his constituency. Several years ago, when Sir John spoke in favour of Bermudian independence, "he was told in no uncertain terms that if he continued in that thrust a primary would be called in Paget East,'' he said.

Mr. Stanley Lowe (PLP) said he wanted to "cool down the temperature in the House'' by addressing some of the "less contentious'' of Judge Tumim's 34 recommendations.

Driver and rider training in schools, establishment of a Government bookstore, improvement of the family court system, videotaping of Police interviews, and courtroom stenographers were all good suggestions, Mr. Lowe said.

There were few whites in the PLP because "there have been very few, if any, white people who would join a black organisation,'' he said. "When the PLP forms the Government, Mr. Speaker, we know that whites will come freely.'' Mrs. Grace Bell (UBP) was challenged as soon as she rose by Mrs. Lois Browne Evans (PLP).

"Tell us why you wouldn't join a black party,'' Mrs. Browne Evans shouted.

Mrs. Bell said she welcomed the question. "I don't consider that I belong to any black or white party,'' she said. "I'm in an integrated party.'' The UBP is the party "that stands the most chance of bringing this Country together, albeit that there are people on both sides who don't want to see that,'' Mrs. Bell said.

Racists will die out and Bermudians must "look to the rising generation,'' she said.