after plaintiff Harold Darrell launched legal action.

A writ was filed in mid-March in order to force the Commission to hear the matter which concerned allegations of racial discrimination by the bank.

Mr. Darrell, president and CEO of Hardell Group, first took the case to the Commission last October. But, according to company officials, the Commission, after first agreeing the complaint was valid, later dismissed it.

The company then claimed that the bank had used its influence to cause the Commission to dismiss the complaint without a hearing.

This week, David Wilson, acting executive director of the Human Rights Commission, confirmed that a consent order had been signed binding the Commission to reopen and hear the case.

Meanwhile, mystery surrounds the exact reasons why Mr. Neville Darrell, who was the Human Rights Commission's executive director until a few weeks ago, is no longer in the position.

Contacted at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Darrell was asked why he is no longer at the Commission.

"It's a very delicate time and it would be very unwise to make any statement at this time,'' he said.

He also declined to comment when asked for a response to the latest developments on the Hardell case.

HRC to probe allegation of racism at bank UBP shadow minister Allan Marshall who has already called for a Government inquiry to look into the allegations against the HRC told The Royal Gazette he, at least expects Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister to reassure the public that the integrity of the Human Rights Commission is intact.

"One could take the view that now that it's back on track, we should move on,'' Mr. Marshall said.

"I am very disturbed that somewhere along the path of this complaint, a stumbling block arose. If it wasn't for the fortitude of the complainant and even his financial resources in hiring a lawyer -- perhaps it would not have gone back on track.'' Mr. Marshall, who supports making the Commission an apolitical body, added that a "very dangerous precedent'' had been set, in that legal action had been required to get the Commission to do its job.

He said that Minister Lister should "investigate and explain what happened and then reassure the public that any weaknesses in the system have been repaired.'' The Human Rights Commission members are appointed by the Minister who has the power to hear any appeals against its decisions.

Mr. Lister could not be contacted by press time. Corey Butterfield, general manager of Hardell declined to comment, saying this paper had been biased in covering the story.

DISCRIMINATION DIS