Government will not rush to introduce an Institute for the Healing of Racism, Human Affairs Minister the Hon. Jerome Dill told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

The suggestion of establishing such an institution came from educator, author, and former broadcast journalist Mr. Nathan Rutstein.

Mr. Rutstein -- who was the keynote speaker at the National Association of Reconciliation's third annual banquet last Saturday night -- said racism was destroying the soul of many nations throughout the world.

Politicians and captains of industry were throwing money at the problem, he added, but they did not know how to stop its spread.

And until an educational thrust that recognised the fundamental "oneness of humanity'' was developed and aimed at primary-aged children, the white University of Massachusetts professor said, the "sophisticated apartheid'' that currently exists in Bermuda would continue.

Noting that his organisation -- the Institute for the Healing of Racism -- has had some success in North America at bringing people together and helping them identify their racism infections and wounds, Mr. Rutstein said the institute aimed to produce healers of racism.

He explained that each member of the Institute underwent a five-step process which began with an acceptance of the principle of oneness of the human family.

They were then taught how the disease of racism began and developed in the US and its pathology, he said.

Next participants engaged in dialogue before they committed themselves to working in the community.

But while noting that the concept was a good one, Mr. Dill yesterday said: "I need to find out a bit more of what the Institute for the Healing of Racism exactly does.

"It's a very good suggestion. But I could reel off six other suggestions that have been made to me about racism. And they are all different.'' Mr. Dill also noted that the race relations issue could be handled from two different approaches.

"You can go the iron fist way which is why we amended the Human Rights Act and gave the Human Rights Commission more teeth and which is why we will be debating, when the House reconvenes, the Amendment to the Criminal Code which makes racially motivated acts criminal offences,'' he said.

"But at the same time you have the velvet glove, CURE -- the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality -- whose emphasis will be largely educational.'' The names of the commission's 12 board members will be announced "very soon'', Mr. Dill added.

CURE's function is to pursue educational and research goals as they relate to race.

"Racism is racism just as the lowest common denominator is the lowest common denominator,'' Mr. Dill said. "But racism manifests itself in different ways in different locations.'' Once CURE and the Human Affairs Ministry feel they have come up with the solution to Bermuda's race problems, Mr. Dill said, they will "pursue it with vigour''.

However, he admitted that he was impressed with what Mr. Rutstein said on racism. And he noted that he was familiar with Mr. Rutstein's work.

Mr. Rutstein is the author of "Two Be One: A Battle Against Racism'' and "Healing Racism in America: A Prescription for the Disease in Creating Racial Harmony in the Classroom''.

"This idea (of a Institute for the Healing of Racism) very well may be a recommendation that CURE takes on board,'' Mr. Dill said.

But he added that he was more interested in CURE being formed "and getting to grips with racism'' in Bermuda''.