political leaders say it will not significantly affect the outcome of the next election.

Spokesmen for the two major political parties predict the issue will not swing significant numbers of voters despite strong passions aired during the House of Assembly's debate on the Tumim Report.

Progressive Labour Party leader Mr. Frederick Wade says his party does not consider institutional racism to be a vote-winning issue.

"For us, it has only marginal appeal,'' he said. "Black voters understand it already and support change in that area.

"I'm not sure what difference it will make in actual votes. It may firm up some support.'' His party's strategist, Sen. Alex Scott, added that "Race per se will not win or lose the next election.'' While the United Bermuda Party believes it must demonstrate effective leadership on the issue to prevent loss of support, it is not considered vital to electoral success.

"Institutional racism is certainly an issue,'' UBP executive officer Mr. Joe Gibbons said. "But in comparison to all other issues, it is not the issue.'' UBP MPs may have neutralised institutional racism as a serious electoral issue by simply recognising its existence. During the House of Assembly's three-day debate they pledged to stamp it out and said whites had to change to make things better.

The move helped deflect a relentless PLP attack that drew from Judge Tumim's findings that there "has not been a major effort to attack the system that supports decisions and practices that lead to discriminatory acts.'' And Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan has sent a strongly worded message that blacks should have faith in how the UBP deals with institutional racism.

"We're going to handle it right up front,'' he told The Royal Gazette .

"We're not going to play any games with it. There will be no denial. We're going to put the blame where it belongs and do something about it.'' In the same interview, he said black growth had been stunted by institutional racism while whites had come to see themselves as better because of it. He said he was determined to change the "cultural mindset'' that allows institutional racism to continue.

Government Sen. Leader the Hon. Mike Winfield said the UBP was finished being timid on the issue of racism -- so ending what has amounted to a PLP-owned issue.

"I think (the PLP) might be strong on the issue because we've let them be strong on it,'' he said. "We've backed away from it.'' PLP polling questions indicate the community believes the party has more political credibility on race issues than the UBP.

An informed party source said a poll question late last year indicated people believed the UBP would prefer to avoid issues of race relations.

Premier Swan believes the PLP will continue to focus on "black issues because they've got nothing else to hang their hats on''.

One factor indicating institutional racism may not continue to be a hot topic is the belief that people shy away from it.

As Mr. Wade said: "It's a confrontational issue and some people don't like (dealing with) it.''