It was the merest whiff of a hint of trouble in paradise. But to Reginald Newkirk it was sufficient to start questions slowly turning in his mind.

The father-of-three was sitting in a Bermudian cafe when he was struck by the way a black waitress embraced a white customer.

It was a natural show of affection; full of warmth. But the reaction of two whites sitting nearby sent a chill through him.

"They appeared to be aghast,'' the Canadian says, throwing up both hands in a mimicking display of horror.

"It told me some people were uncomfortable with non-sexual loving between those of different races.

"Maybe Bermudians should ask themselves questions about how they relate to each other.

"For instance, while black and white people may appear to get on OK at work, what happens afterwards. Do they socialise with one another?'' To a member of the Baha'is like Mr. Newkirk, the cafe episode jarred harshly with the central theme of his faith: People should rejoice in their differences.

"The Baha'is believe there is unity in diversity,'' he stresses.

It is a message which Mr. Newkirk has been spreading in public speeches recently during a whistle-stop tour of Bermuda after being invited here by the local Baha'is community.

The 52-year-old from Toronto, who spent his early childhood in New York, is the Secretary General of the Baha'is of Canada and specialises in human rights, race relations, and the prevention of family violence.

And while clearly someone who speaks his mind, Mr. Newkirk does not come across as a man hell-bent on force-feeding Bermudians with some form of religious prescription.

Rather he sees himself on a sharing mission.

"I've been talking about ways in which we in Canada attempt to share the principles of the Bahai's faith with the rest of Canada.

"The things which we are doing may have some relevance for you in Bermuda.

"For example, we are looking at equality of men and women in the Baha'i community, as well as race relations.'' A first-timer to the Island, Mr. Newkirk points to a "Spiritual Council for the Healing of the Nation'' -- an umbrella body under which the Island's churches can gather -- as one idea Bermudians should explore.

Such an idea had taken off in Canada, a country plagued by violent clashes between the native Indians and the Police.

"The primary foundation of anything which may bring about peace between the Indians and non-Indians has to be predicated on a spiritual foundation.

"People have to understand the oneness of humanity from which we can develop friendship.

"Through friendship comes fellowship, and out of that is born a loving regard for one another. And out of that is generated the notion of unity in diversity.'' He adds: "I think Bermuda could certainly benefit from a Spiritual Council.

"We in the Baha'is believe strongly that no religion is better than another one.'' Mr. Newkirk, who acquired a degree in history and philosophy in Canada and joined the Baha'is in 1962, points out that many of his faith's ideas are contained in two key documents.

One is the "Prosperity of Human Kind'' -- a paper presented in Copenhagen at an international United Nations summit on social development.

The other is "Turning Point of All Nations'', which he describes as a contribution to the dialogue about global changes.

"Even as we speak the United Nations is examining itself, and looking at ways in which it can become more relevant.'' Bermuda's own reexamination of itself has left Mr. Newkirk in many ways full of admiration.

In particular, he applauds the new Commission for Unity and Racial Equity (CURE).

"I think it's a fantastic idea, and one which is quite unique in the Western world,'' he enthuses.

To Mr. Newkirk, CURE is a perfect example of how problems should be tackled.

"Problems are merely soluble challenges,'' he says.

MR. REGINALD NEWKIRK -- Secretary General of the Baha'is community of Canada.

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