turned Remembrance Day into a party.

Sen. Smith said some saw the ceremony as commemorating "two world wars fought by European countries for the right to have colonies.'' And he added black people in Bermuda -- itself a colony -- were entitled to view the world wars differently.

He said: "For us, it wasn't any big deal. For us to come up and feel excited about this...this just did not make sense.'' Sen. Smith added: "These people came, there was an enormous increase, they wanted to see what was a celebration of the freeing of Bermuda.

"If anyone didn't have the sensitivity to that situation, being out there among a large majority of people, then harmony, peace and all the things we strive for will become so much more difficult.'' And Sen. Smith added: "We haven't got to the point where diversity means respect for other people's viewpoints and an understanding of what was taken place before we pass judgement...'' And he said the November 11 scenes at the Cenotaph, two days after the PLP swept to power and where the normal solemn atmosphere was changed into a party rally, were deserved.

Sen. Smith added: "If that wasn't just reward for what the people had toiled for so long, without violence -- sure we had a few outbursts -- but generally we've been excellent citizens.'' Earlier, Mr. Smith defended PLP MP Reginald Burrows, who last week called on major local businesses, like the banks and utility companies, to make room for jobless Government MPs.

Sen. Smith said: "Some people scoffed at this and some people expressed the view that they get hired if they're worthy.'' But he added that all Members of the House were worthy -- but not all got hired by big business.

Sen. Smith said there was "a long history of people opting to represent the PLP and finding themselves in dire financial straits.'' He added he had found problems when he quit the Civil Service to run for the PLP -- but found obstacles even after he improved his qualifications at university. Sen. Smith said: "Members of the PLP have a right to be treated like everybody else in Bermuda because right now, whether we had won or not, the future depends on us.

"If the business community is talking about cooperation, they've got to find ways of taking care of our people because they have made the ultimate sacrifice in representing their country.''