because racism continues to thrive on the Island.

That was the view of ten prominent Bermudians who were yesterday asked whether they thought the relationship between blacks and whites in Bermuda was healthy.

The informal survey took place after judges in the Miss Bermuda Islands pageant were called racists because they chose a white winner in the latest incident in which racism was raised as a factor.

Several of the Bermudians questioned said that while the races get along fine in the workplace, they go their separate ways after 5 p.m.

They said residents need to make more effort to socialise after hours with people of the opposite race, instead of sticking with their usual group of friends, who may be mostly made up of either blacks or whites.

And a member of the sporting community warned that sports may be becoming more racially segregated than they were in the past.

Dandy Town soccer coach Mr. Robert Calderon recalled that when he was growing up there were more whites on different soccer teams than there are now.

"Race relations in sports may have slowly dissipated or never really improved,'' he said.

All of the those questioned said they could not call race relations in Bermuda healthy because there was still much room for improvement.

Government Sen. Jerome Dill, who is heading a United Bermuda Party caucus committee on racism -- and was himself the subject of a racial slur -- said race relations are "not in a good state at all''.

But the majority of those questioned believed race relations in Bermuda were better than in other countries.

And they commended the organisers of the many racial awareness forums held recently and the openness of the speakers and members of public attending them.

Sen. Dill, who was the subject of the "Master's Got a New Nigger'' poster in May which showed him shaking the hand of a Government Minister after winning a UBP primary, said the openness and honesty expressed at such forums needed to continue in order for race relations to improve.

Lawyer Mr. Tim Marshall said: "I would say (race relations) are healthier here than anywhere else in the world.

"But that does not necessarily mean there is no work to be done. There is lots of work to be done. And, basically, this can be achieved quite simply by constant, meaningful dialogue.'' Mr. Marshall said one thing that can be done is putting an end to the "secret dialogue'' that goes on, where whites talk among themselves about blacks, and vice versa.

Said the lawyer: "If there is one place in the world where racial harmony can truly be achieved, Bermuda is that place. Already, Bermudians have accomplished a great deal towards this end.'' Many of those questioned, however, felt one area not nearly enough has been accomplished in was recreation.

Mr. Calderon, who is also the human resources director for Princess Hotels, said the Island projects an image of healthy race relations socially, but when you look deeper, that is all it is.

"I believe that image is superficial because when most people walk out of their office they go their separate ways. I personally leave work and go to a club which is predominantly black. I'm not sure what can be done to improve this situation but that's what happens.'' He added: "Just look at how people interact in sports. On any given day that you go and see a sports event you'll see a majority of either blacks or whites. Some say it comes down to a push of likes and dislikes, but I believe it's because people want to be around a certain group of people because of colour.'' He suggested one solution may be district schools, where people in the same neighbourhood must attend the same school.

Chamber of Commerce vice president Miss Carolyn Mello had the same concern: "There seems to be a common theory that Bermuda is integrated nine-to-five, but not socially...This problem really needs to be addressed.'' Miss Mello said racial awareness seminars are one way of solving the problem.

She said the COC is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages it members to do the same. And she said it has taken an active role in promoting racial harmony.

"We are one of many organisations that support racial awareness seminars in the community and we will, in fact, be supporting a month of seminars in October which are being put on by the National Association for Reconciliation.'' Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis said race relations "have improved steadily since the early 1960s''.

"I was old enough to remember when race relations were much worse,'' he said.

"I think the two races know each other a lot better now because they are meeting more socially, at clubs and churches.

"But there are still people left over from the bygone days who have developed prejudices which they may be passing on to younger people.'' He added a race problem which especially concerns him is people using racial discrimination as an excuse. "The whites blame the blacks for their problem and vice versa,'' he said.

Canon James Francis, chairman of the Human Rights Commission, was impressed with the recent slew of public forums on racism.

Race relations are healthier than they have been for some time because people are talking about the issue with openness and candour,'' he said. He said he believed one of the biggest cause of poor race relations is organisations, business, religious and recreational, failing to reflect the make-up of the community.

While Bermuda's population is made up of more blacks than whites, there are many organisation which do not reflects this, he said.

"We must develop a long-range plan to reflect the make up of the community,'' he said.

He added it was difficult to say whether racial discrimination complaints had increased or decreased, because often a case is investigated and found "not to be a racial thing''.

Women's Advisory Council Mrs. Kim Young also said blacks and whites should make more effort to get together on a social basis.

She suggested people "reach out'' and meet people of the opposite colour. One way is to invite colleagues to family gatherings, she said.

She said race relations in Bermuda are healthy in the sense that people are talking about racism more.

Former NLP and PLP member Mr. Walter Brangman said race relations have "gone much further than people expected''.

However, he said, there is still a long way to go and it should start in the workplace.

"Employers need to have a broader outlook and embrace people of all races,'' he said.

Retired psychiatrist Dr. Emily Liddell, who is coordinating a series of racial awareness seminars for the newly formed National Association for Reconciliation, said she did not believe anyone would deny racism is alive in Bermuda.

"Racism is never healthy,'' she said. "But so much of it is below the surface -- people are generally not racist on purpose.'' Dr. Liddell said she hopes the four seminars in October will help people discover to if they are racist and to what extent.

And lawyer Ms Keren Lomas said she could not say whether race relations here are healthy because there is "no thermometer to take their temperature''.

She added the focus should be on improving relations in the work place in general.