The chairman of a new Government commission should apologise for saying that racism in Bermuda is not a serious problem or resign, says an organiser of the recent Million Man March in Bermuda.

Mr. Michael Mello, chairman of the new Commission on Unity and Racial Equality, said at a news conference on Wednesday that racism was not a "major problem'' in Bermuda.

CURE is charged with ending discrimination and promoting racial and ethnic harmony.

Mr. Mello later clarified his remark, saying that he was pointing out "the danger of failing to deal with racism today, in the many subtle ways that it is now expressed.'' He said the level of racism in Bermuda was such that "CURE is still able to have an impact''.

But Mr. Rolfe Commissiong, a spokesman for the One Million Man March Coalition of Bermuda, said one could only infer from Mr. Mello's comment that he views racism as being "a minor problem'' in Bermuda.

"Not only was the statement manifestly stupid, but insulting as well to all right-thinking Bermudians, particularly those of the African Bermudian community,'' Mr. Commissiong said.

"We contend that institutional racism in all of its manifestations is the number one problem in Bermudian society today.'' Mr. Commissiong said Human Affairs Minister Jerome Dill should "demand an apology from Mr. Mello, or, better yet, demand his resignation''.

And the other members of CURE might need some in-house sensitivity training, said Mr. Commissiong, who is a member of the Progressive Labour Party's central committee.

But Mr. Dill said that if Mr. Commissiong's coalition has concerns, it should take them up with Mr. Mello directly. "I don't want to elevate this at this time into something that it isn't,'' Mr. Dill said yesterday.

While Mr. Mello's remark "called for clarification'', Mr. Dill said Mr. Mello had "now explained his position, and his explanation to me is a totally plausible explanation''.

Mr. Commissiong said that before "offering prescriptions for the rest of Bermuda'', Mr. Mello should look at his own workplace of Mello, Hollis, Jones & Martin. How many black partners and associates did the firm have? And how many black males were employed? "Without the support of the African Bermudian community, CURE's effectiveness will be seriously impaired, if not crippled,'' he said.

DIS