marathon two-day debate in the House of Assembly.

Both the United Bermuda Party and the Progressive Labour Party had said they would not back away from racism, but did not plan to make it a dominant issue in the impending campaign.

However, judging from the record-breaking debate on Friday and Saturday -- which both parties saw as early test of their campaign platforms -- race could be important... although each party blamed the other for raising it.

The Hon. John Stubbs of the UBP said the major campaign issue was not the economy, but race. The reason? "It's woven throughout the fabric of the PLP's electoral position,'' he said.

On the other hand, PLP MP Mr. Ottiwell Simmons said it was mainly black members of the UBP, like Mr. Phillip Smith, who raised the issue of racism.

"I don't know why they don't go and form a black caucus in the UBP,'' he said. "They know their party is racist ... philosophically.'' Dr. Stubbs commented: "I don't know of a better-integrated institution in Bermuda than the UBP.'' As for the PLP, "we know we represent the black people in this country,'' said former leader Mrs. Lois Browne Evans during the debate. But the PLP has said they also welcome whites.

More than once, PLP MPs portrayed blacks in the UBP as "sell-outs.'' "As far as black people are concerned, they've received a dishonourable discharge from the race,'' Mr. Simmons said. "They're now coloured folk.'' National Liberal Party Leader Mr. Gilbert Darrell opened the debate with census figures which showed income for blacks and whites were only comparable in the middle class. There was a much higher proportion of blacks in the low-income bracket and more whites with high incomes. "Blacks are in the lower echelons of our society, the same as in the States,'' Mr. Darrell said.

Nobody disputed the figures for the low-income bracket, but there were different opinions on how to address the problem.

Opposition whip Mr. Stanley Lowe said there needed to be more opportunities for blacks in the private sector. "They're not getting the sort of shake that they should get and that is a real irritant,'' he said.

The alternative view was given by the UBP's Mr. Smith, who said: "As black people we do people a disservice by blaming everybody for our problems. Do not make excuses. Let's develop ourselves.'' Shadow Environment Minister Mr. Julian Hall said Government did not manage the economy to the extent the heads of the two major banks did. Those institutions were "riddled with institutionalised racism,'' he claimed.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan said Government was working hard to assure that if institutional racism was "the last bastion'' separating Bermudians, "we're going to do our utmost'' to remove it.

Sir John also attacked Mr. Simmons' statement. "In other words if you are black you belong to the PLP and if you are coloured you belong to the UBP,'' he said. "It's an insult to my race. If we said anything about that they would be all over us.'' The Premier must call an election by February 9. That means the election could be held as late as May. But a three-week campaign is the norm, making it doubtful a vote would be held later than February.