West Indian, Barbadian, and Jamaican Associations have formed an umbrella organisation tasked with presenting a united front.

While the three groups will still be separate entities, they have appointed a spokesman for the Council for Caribbean Unity to handle public relations in the wake of joint meetings.

The CCU will present for West Indian people in Bermuda a "singular voice'' and will be a co-ordinating body for the three constituent parts.

Spokesman Trevor Fyfe said of the CCU: "Each association maintains its own sovereignty and on a local level maintain the same calendar of events.

"Nationally and internationally the CCU will be a singular voice,'' he added.

"Whatever we do will be from a position of professionalism and responsibility.'' The CCU's first official function was a welcoming party for the Bermuda Police Service's new West Indian recruits, who met the Premier Jennifer Smith, Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay and Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox.

"We have across the board support in the Bermudian and West Indian communities,'' Mr. Fyfe explained.

The CCU was formally introduced to Premier Smith at her Cabinet Building office earlier this month.

Another highlight for the fledgling organisation is the upcoming performance of the play `Eve', written and directed by Jamaican comedian Oliver Samuels.

"Eve' is to be performed at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts on September 8 and 9.

There will be a formal banquet to be held at the Sonesta Beach Resort on November 18 at which Trevor Monroe, professor of Government and Politics at the University of the West Indies will be the keynote speaker.