Campaigners against Bermuda's racial barriers have backed calls for an end to political heat in the Independence debate.

The National Association for Reconciliation supported the stance of the Committee for the Independence of Bermuda.

"The partisan nature of the rhetoric which has reached the media has been a matter of great and grave concern to us,'' said co-chairperson Dr. Eva Hodgson.

"The last decade or more has seen partisan politics reinforce our historical racial division to the continued disadvantage of the black community.'' This week the Independence committee rejected Government and Opposition positions on the issue.

Government has said any decision on Independence should be made through a referendum.

The Progressive Labour Party has called for a general election on the matter.

On Thursday, however, the Independence committee put forward a third option.

It said an inter-party committee should be formed to pinpoint areas of agreement and negotiate points of dispute.

"This option will require our politicians to place Bermuda's interests above party interests,'' said Independence Committee spokesman Mr. Walton Brown Jr.

Yesterday Dr. Hodgson said her association strongly supported the proposal for a "harmonious approach'' to the Independence debate.

"We have been perturbed, and found it greatly disturbing, to envision our moving forward to Independence in a partisan and therefore racially divisive fashion.

"It is of particular concern to us because each time there has been a significant change of social and political policy which should have contributed to narrowing the economic disparity established by slavery and its continuing impact, it has been followed by action which lessened the value of change and eroded the hopes of blacks.

"Emancipation which should have provided greater economic opportunity for blacks was followed by the importation of Portuguese workers to displace freed slaves and eroded the benefit which should have followed.

"The benefits of the post war `winds of change' and the formation of a workers' union were followed by an immigration policy which deliberately displaced black hotel workers by Europeans.

"The tremendous benefits which should have accrued by the expansion of the economy and international business has hardly touched the majority of black males directly as a result of immigration policy and an educational system which has ensured their exclusion.'' Dr. Hodgson went on to voice concern that there was no "serious effort'' to make non-partisan appointments to Government boards.

She said partisan Government appointments reinforced racism -- even when those appointed were black.