United Bermuda Party leader Kim Swan last night called for the Island's leaders to bring people together on race.

Mr. Swan released a statement saying race advisor Rolfe Commissiong's comments about Friday night's House of Assembly debate on race were "driving a wedge between people".

Mr. Commissiong had claimed white MPs had not spoken enough in the seven-hour discussion on Wayne Furbert's motion for the House to apologise for indignation and degradation inflicted on Bermuda by successive Governments.

Mr. Swan last night said of the debate: "It was a rare example of consensus, especially in light of the different life perspectives each MP brought to the debate, and a step in the right direction.

"But this weekend Mr. Commissiong said he did not think white MPs went deeply enough into the issues raised by the motion and then he tried to marginalise individuals.

"I believe we have to take our successes on the fundamental issue of relations between the races wherever and whenever we can, and Friday's debate was one such success.

"Mr. Commissiong's words on the matter continue to drive a wedge between people in much the same way we see during election periods, and they stand as a reminder that under the Premier's controlling hand there remains in place a political will to divide Bermudians along racial lines for partisan political gain.

"For Bermuda, this is a dead end strategy that will continue to impair our growth as one people. Good leadership on matters of race must ultimately be about bringing people together.

"Good leadership must take its best understanding of the history and the sensitivities, impediments and benefits that history bequeathed and use it to build a positive connections between people, to build a foundation that all of us can share fairly as Bermudians moving forward."

All four white MPs present in the House on Friday night spoke during the debate. Grant Gibbons and John Barritt of the UBP both said they regretted injustices of the past but had difficulties apologising for somebody else's actions; their party colleague Mark Pettingill and Government backbencher Zane DeSilva both said they would do whatever they could to bring about reconciliation.

Big Conversation organiser Mr. Commissiong responded over the weekend: "I would like to commend MP Furbert for spearheading this motion. His comments in particular were exemplary in their acknowledgement of the institutions historic role in the oppression of black Bermudians.

"My biggest disappointment however was that not enough members addressed the motion as laid before them with respect to the role which successive Parliaments throughout our history played in the political and economic disenfranchisement of black Bermudians, particularly white Parliamentarians such as MP Grant Gibbons."