Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simons has called on Government to make an effort to preserve all aspects of Bermuda?s history, saying only the Island?s black history currently receives the attention it deserves.

Mr. Simons spoke in the wake of an announcement by Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield that the Island?s 400-year old forts had been severely neglected, and that Government was taking steps to preserve them.

In a report released recently on the condition of Bermuda?s forts, surveyor Dr. Edward Harris wrote: ?The last decade has seen a geometric rate of damage and decay due to vandals, climate and vegetation.

?This must be laid down to the fact that the proper management of the forts, that should have been established with the 1987 National Parks Act, did not occur.?

The Progressive Labour Party first came to power in 1998, six years ago.

?The Minister of the Environment publicly confirmed that the PLP Government has done little over the years to restore, protect and preserve Bermuda?s forts,? Mr. Simons wrote in an e-mail.

?This admission should not be surprising as our Government is doing its best to ensure that Bermuda?s colonial past is relegated to the bottom shelf so that it gets very little attention, if any.

?Internationally, one of every Government?s mandate is to preserve and highlight all of its national heritage. But here in Bermuda, this Government has fallen woefully short in achieving this mandate, and I believe that this was by design.

?Let me be frank,? Mr. Simons said. ?Under the PLP Government, if it is not a part of Bermuda?s rich black history, it is not a priority, and will not get the attention it rightfully deserves.

?The PLP Government must accept that Bermuda?s rich history was what it was. We need to protect and preserve the best of our history, along with the worst of our history. We must also protect and preserve all of the few remaining relics.

?I recognise that we all may not be happy with the injustices which accompanied our colonial past. But the reality is, our colonial past was one of the many vehicles which was used to help bring Bermuda to where we are today.

?If this Government can spend hundreds of thousands on the Black Diaspora Trail, and take action to recognise the contributions of the black Bermudian luminaries of Bermuda?s rich historic tapestry, then this Government must do its best to also maintain and preserve Bermuda?s 400-year fortification heritage.

?From where I stand, all of Bermuda?s history and culture must be preserved. We must do all we can to showcase Bermuda?s black heritage, Bermuda?s Portuguese heritage and Bermuda?s colonial heritage.

?Our community can ill afford to discount the value of the events of the past. This Government must ensure that they recognise and accept all elements of our rich historic tapestry, and provide adequate resources to effectively manage and preserve all, and I repeat all of our historic sites, and not just emphasise a single component of our rich history.

?The Minister of the Environment said that she would be taking steps to save these important aspects of Bermuda?s history, culture and tourism product. I hope she does, but the truth will come out when Bermuda?s 2004 Budget is presented next month.?

Calls to Dr. Harris and Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield were not returned on Monday or Tuesday.