Changes could be made to controversial regulations on race reporting in the workplace, Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister confirmed yesterday.

And Mr. Lister said the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality rules would be taken on the road to get the views of the public, not just business leaders, before any decision on a revamp would be made.

Mr. Lister -- in his first statement on the CURE rules since Senate blocked them last month -- said: "There is no reason not to -- we have the opportunity to hear from the public.

"And the public may well wish us to do different things.

"We're not just going to be saying we want to hear from the five representatives of those business groups -- we're going to speak to the representatives of 60,000 people as well.'' But he stressed he would also be speaking again to employer groups to canvass their opinions further.

Mr. Lister was speaking after the Senate moved to oppose the introduction of the CURE regulations following complaints from some business leaders that the rules went further than had been thought and there had not been enough consultation.

Mr. Lister said he wanted to take discussions outside the House of Assembly and Senate as well.

He added: "We're going to expand that by going to the public meeting process.

Through the consultative process, we will decide exactly where we should be.'' The series of public meetings -- which will start this week and run for six weeks -- come in the wake of a blast from Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons that Government had failed to consult properly and damaged the confidence of big business in Bermuda.

And Dr. Gibbons said a TV round table involving Premier Jennifer Smith, Ministers and top business people was a "PR exercise'' -- and an admission that there had not been enough consultation.

But Mr. Lister, who also took part in the TV programme, dismissed Dr. Gibbons claims.

Public to have its say on CURE Mr. Lister said: "I don't have time to talk about Grant Gibbons -- I'm not interested in the Opposition. I'm interested in what the public has to say.

"The Opposition said nothing of interest in the House and little of interest in the Senate, so they have removed themselves from the discussion.'' And he added a failed Opposition move to delay the CURE rules in the House by calling for a quorum just after the lunch break signalled "their unwillingness to move forward in the new Bermuda where we're trying to create a country which is fair and equal for all''.

Mr. Lister said: "The public need not be surprised when the Opposition balks at things we do for the social benefit of Bermuda. It's only natural the Opposition will oppose.'' But last night Shadow Development and Opportunity Minister Allan Marshall said: "The Minister has egg all over his face.

"He indicated all along that he has consulted -- but the truth is that the representatives of the employer bodies were not consulted.

"He is now figuring he can do a public relations exercise through road shows to try and win support.

"But that support, in part, will come from people only indirectly affected by the bureaucracy and red tape which will be imposed.

"It's the employers who have to carry out most of that.'' After a combination of Opposition and Independent Senators voted down the CURE regulations, Government has the option of sitting on them for a year and bypassing Senate altogether or modifying them and sending them to the Upper House again.

The original regulations applied to all firms with ten or more employees.

Firms would have had to have registered with CURE and provide an annual breakdown on race, employment level and income of employees.

Firms would also have had to provide information on the racial breakdown of job applicants and a list of people who quit by race and reason.

Employees would have had to fill in forms giving their ethnic origin, job, pay and perks, while job applicants would be required to give race and post applied for.

Business representatives said -- while they supported equal opportunities -- the CURE regulations meant too much red tape and bureaucracy and complained they had not had the opportunity to see the final results before the rules were tabled in the House.

Mr. Lister will hold the first of the public talks tomorrow night at 7.30 p.m.

at St. James Church Hall in Somerset.

He will conduct the meetings along with representatives from CURE and will explain the main reasons Government feel the amendments are necessary. Mr.

Lister will also be available to answer specific queries members of the public may have.

SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC CURE TALKS April 11 ...St. James' Church Hall, 7.30 p.m.

April 20 ...St. George's Town Hall, 7.30 p.m.

April 27 ...Francis Patton School, 7.30 p.m.

May 4 ...Devonshire Recreation Club, 7.30 p.m.

May 11 ...Hamilton Cathedral Hall, 7.30 p.m.

May 18 ...Warwick Workman's Club, 7.30 p.m.

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