A body tasked with tackling racial discrimination is to undergo a thorough review after Government said there had been a lack of progress.

And it appears possible that the Commission on Unity and Racial Equality (CURE) could be replaced by a new organisation.

In Friday's Throne Speech, Governor Sir Richard Gozney said: "The statutory remit of the Commission on Unity and Racial Equality is the elimination of racial discrimination and institutionalised racial discrimination in Bermuda.

"What the Government sees as a lack of progress in this area means that some new vehicle must be found to address an issue that continues to plague this community.

"Therefore CURE will undergo a thorough review and with effect from January 1, 2010, its data collection function will be assumed by the Department of Statistics. The perennial findings are predictable and well known.

"A modern solution with appropriate policy framework must be found to address the historical inequities, which have become more than a trend."

Michelle Scott-Outerbridge, CURE chairwoman, said the review would serve to uncover the strengths and weaknesses of the Commission and would "lead to a renewed focus on the most appropriate strategy to produce change".

She added: "The Throne Speech calls for more aggressive action toward changing the status quo, rather than simply reporting on the state of the races."

In 2004, CURE handed over its role in gathering data on race to the Department of Statistics, which has since been responsible for the same role through the Annual Employment Survey.

Now CURE, which downloads its data from the Department of Statistics, will also refrain from its data collection and analysis function.

Mrs Scott-Outerbridge explained: "The removal of the data collection/analysis function from CURE will now permit for focused action that effects change to address the 'historical inequities, which have become more than a trend ' based on statistical findings to date."

She continued: "The Department of Statistics will continue the work of reporting on trends while new approaches will be engaged to effect change. CURE's operations include, but are not limited to, data analyses and reporting.

"The CURE team and commissioners carry out varied functions, including education, training and promotion on race equality and fair and equal access to opportunity.

"The Throne Speech commits Government, who created CURE in 1994, to determine the vehicle most appropriate to achieve its objectives."