Reconciliation questionnaire.

NAR co-chairperson Dr. Eva Hodgson had rapped the party for ignoring racism in its answers.

The party had avoided answering yes or no to questions on whether it acknowledged racism existed, and considered it a serious problem, she complained.

But yesterday the United Bermuda Party defended its race stance, and released its response to the NAR's questions.

The letter stated: "One of our strongest beliefs is that the issues of racial equality and racial opportunity are too important to be reduced to a "yes/no'' answer.

"If there is an issue that deserves the utmost dignity, respect and fullness in its discussion, it is the issue of race.

"This most fundamental human concern deserves a sensitivity that cannot be captured in one word answers.'' The letter underlined promises in the party's manifesto, including setting up a race relations division of the Human Rights Commission.

Another pledge was to develop a Code of Employment to wipe out discrimination at work, it added.

The letter went on to address the question on whether it supported the NAR's objectives.

"The United Bermuda Party has and is committed to any organisation which supports reconciliation and not division.'' But Dr. Hodgson criticised this as only "indirect support'' for the association.

"The NAR's position is that racism continues to be the number one evil in the country today.

"Racism is the root cause of many of our problems including lack of opportunity in the work place, drug abuse, inadequate housing, confusion in our schools and a host of others.

"We are convinced that there must be strong political leadership to encourage and urge each individual to challenge the evil of racism. This type of leadership has been lacking amongst the people who have had the power to make the necessary changes.'' Dr. Hodgson said the UBP failed to see the distinction between discrimination and racism.

"The disabled suffer discrimination, but the black disabled face a double burden,'' she said.