Eighteen Bermudians will go into the workplace to mediate racial tensions after they undergo a period of training later this month.

And Government will spend $30,000 for the programme which it is funding jointly with the Bermuda Employers Council.

Conflict Management Group, an internationally recognised organisation which has worked in the United States, Southern Africa and Cyprus, will conduct the workshops.

The trainee facilitators, many of whom are in senior management positions, volunteered for the workshops which begin with an introductory session on December 5.

That will be followed in February with a period of in-depth training.

Next, the facilitators will be involved in a coaching or follow up session in March, to iron out any difficulties that may have arisen.

Human Affairs and Information Minister the Hon. Jerome Dill said yesterday that the workshops were one part of Government's multi-faceted approach to racism, and would complement the other initiatives that had preceded it.

Mr. Dill was quick to point out that although an international company had been secured to conduct and oversee the facilitators' training, a Bermudian, Ms Arlene Brock is heading the work.

Moreover, he said the training was more than a series of workshops because the facilitators would develop practical skills.

Consequently, they will be able to anticipate and defuse early stages of conflict, mediate and facilitate amicable solutions to racial conflicts and present training courses and programmes on race, gender and diversity issues.

"The training of these facilitators is a major step toward achieving the Ministry's mandate to eliminate racism from the community,'' he said.

Bermuda Employer's Council president Mr. Dennis Tucker said he was pleased that his organisation, which represents 325 Bermudian employers, was able to work alongside Government on this issue.

While acknowledging there were differing perceptions and realities on the extent of the problems faced by people of different genders and racial heritages, Mr. Tucker said the programme was oversubscribed.

Mr. Tucker added that he hoped the workshops helped to change the methods some managers have used to conduct hiring and advancement in the past.

Meanwhile, Ms Arlene Brock, who joins the Conflict Management Group in January, said the programme was intended to help people to deal with conflicts and tensions as they arise.

"We've looked widely at the problems and sometimes we feel utter despair,'' she said. "But we can come together because we are human beings who simply need the tools and skills to talk about the issues and arrive at solutions.''