Troubles at the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality (CURE) will be given a fresh look early next year when a new board is in place, Community and Sport Minister Randy Horton told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

“A blind man could see there are some concerns,” he said. “And it's something that must be addressed.”

Mr. Horton was responding to a report this week of the resignation of Florenz Maxwell, CURE chairperson.

Commissioner Tom Vesey, who has asked not to be re-appointed to the Commission after its term ends at the end of the year, told The Royal Gazette that he doubted Government's commitment to provide adequate resources to the institution.

Mr. Horton, who inherited responsibility for CURE in a recent cabinet reshuffle, is keeping an open mind.

“I think there are some people who feel not enough has been done - that's something I'm going to be looking into next year,” he said. “There have been some complaints relating to the productivity of CURE.”

He said while he couldn't say whether the complaints are justified it was clear that they have to be examined.

He revealed that about four commissioners - including Mrs. Maxwell - had given notice that they did not wish to continue serving on the 12-member Commission.

“But it's not necessarily a resignation,” he said. “Some people just don't want to go on.” Mr. Horton added that a new commission had already been selected which will be announced in the Official Gazette early next year.

“With the new board in place, we'll be able to sit down and examine the issues,” Mr. Horton said.

Mrs. Maxwell resigned her position because she disapproved of the handling of the appointment of a new executive officer for CURE.

“She expressed some concerns about the way it was done and I respect Mrs. Maxwell for making the decision she has made,” the Minister said.

David Northcott, a Bermudian, was selected for the position of executive officer - beating out Leona Scott who acted in the position since the resignation of Sharol Simmons.

In an interview with the Bermuda Sun, Mrs. Maxwell said she was disappointed that Ms Scott learned that she had not been selected through the newspaper.

She also made it clear that she believed Ms Scott was quite capable of handling the job - a civil service appointment.

CURE is Bermuda's most recent attempt at combating institutional racism.

Companies with ten or more employees are required by law to report the race, income, benefits and other details of their workforce.

It recently published the first annual review of the Bermuda workforce.

The report showed that blacks bore the brunt of institutional discrimination in terms of employment levels, income and benefits.