An Opposition candidate has come under renewed criticism from a second union for making “unfounded and divisive” comments.

The Bermuda Industrial Union spoke out after Robert King claimed that the Government and Civil Service had failed to address problems faced by the Black community.

Mr King, who has spent more than 20 years working in the Civil Service as a probation officer, made his remarks after being announced as the One Bermuda Alliance candidate for Smith’s North.

In an interview with The Royal Gazette last week, Mr King said: “Many are leaving this island because they don’t feel their needs are getting addressed by a Black government and a Black Civil Service who you would expect to be well equipped to deal with Black problems.”

Mr King also stated that the Government lacked integrity because it had not delivered on its promises.

The comments were condemned by the Bermuda Public Services Union as “deeply divisive”.

The executive board of the BIU has now issued a statement questioning the remarks and attacking the OBA’s track record when it was in office between 2012 and 2017.

The statement said: “Mr King suggests that the current administration, being predominantly Black, should inherently be better equipped to tackle issues affecting the Black community. However, such a stance overlooks the longstanding presence of Black civil servants who have diligently served their country, irrespective of the ruling party.

“Therefore, Mr King's attempt to imply that the ethnicity of the PLP government and Civil Service has hindered its effectiveness is unfounded and divisive.

“Furthermore, Mr King appears to have unintentionally insinuated that his own party, the OBA, might face similar challenges due to its Black leadership is perplexing. Mr King's remarks hint at a troubling self-deprecation, suggesting that he may harbour internalised prejudices or a discomfort with his own racial identity.

“Such remarks not only detract from the discourse but also undermine the principles of inclusivity and respect.

“The longstanding concerns raised by the BIU regarding understaffing in critical government sectors, including the Ministry of Public Works and Department of Parks, resonate with Mr King's remarks regarding the neglected state of public spaces but this underscores the need for bipartisan efforts to address systemic issues.

“Mr King’s statements failed to provide clarity as to how the OBA would address these issues, and this speaks volumes.

“It is worth recalling the OBA's 2012 electoral promise to create 2,000 jobs, a commitment that was not fulfilled. Instead, during their tenure, Bermuda witnessed a decline of 2,000 jobs, exacerbating economic challenges.

“Additionally, the mismanagement of the Morgan’s Point bailout, which ballooned from a $160 million commitment to over $200 million, highlights the need for accountability and transparency in financial matters.

“Lastly, lest we forget, the OBA’s last tenure included the controversial outsourcing of LF Wade International Airport operations to Aecon, coupled with the taxpayer-funded minimum revenue guarantees. The agreement's provisions, obligating taxpayers to cover shortfalls in Aecon's revenue, underscore the lack of rigorous oversight and scrutiny of public-private partnerships during the OBA tenure in government.

“In conclusion, Mr King's remarks highlight broader issues concerning governance, accountability and racial dynamics within Bermuda's political landscape. Moving forward, it is imperative for political discourse to transcend divisive rhetoric and focus on collaborative solutions that benefit all Bermudians.“

Following last week’s criticism from the BPSU, Mr King issued a statement defending and clarifying his remarks.

He said: “What I meant was this. The government of the day states that it is a government that represents and addresses the needs of the community, in particular the Black community, and this would be evident in the make-up of the current government, which is 99 per cent Black and one per cent white.

“The Civil Service, in particular the criminal justice system, of which my former clients and I have had knowledge and experience of for over 20 years, is essentially Black.

“Obviously, not all civil servants are Black. Furthermore, when I was speaking about a Black civil service, I meant that's what is represented in terms of the race, the people who are working in the criminal justice system and the people whom my former clients would see would essentially look just like him or her.

“The point I was making is that the Civil Service and the Government have let the people of this country down, especially the vulnerable and the underserved. I know for a fact, having spoken to and worked with individuals, who come from challenging backgrounds that this is true.

“I, along with former colleagues, have tried to address the problems to assist this vulnerable population as best we could, and what we found was the Civil Service and the way systems currently run did not allow this to happen in an efficient way.

“The public needs to know the truth about how government systems work and negatively impact on the lives of persons in the community, especially the underserved and vulnerable.

“I would advise everybody who feels that the government is not taking care of their needs and their community to get out and vote and let's make change.”