Both political parties should work together to improve race relations and combat crises in education and housing, Opposition Sen. Gina Spence-Farmer told the Upper House on Wednesday.

"Bermuda needs healing. There are a number of people who are suffering in silence," Mrs. Spence-Farmer said. "If ever there was a time for the Progressive Labour Party and the United Bermuda Party to work together, that time is now."

During the Throne Speech debate on Wednesday, Mrs. Spence-Farmer spoke about efforts to improve race relations — saying the Big Conversation had worked in some ways but not in others.

Referring to her experiences attending the get-togethers, she said: "It was very, very emotional, sometimes very painful. I thought the Big Conversation was a good start to addressing the issue or race relations from a basic opportunity to take a look at it.

"It doesn't go deep enough to provide healing. There were times in the room where it became so divisive, people started to just drop off — they did not return. It's very dangerous to take people back into an experience like that."

She said while it was important to revisit and comprehend past injustices, people could learn from Nelson Mandela, who has preached that the way forward is forgiveness.

Mandela said that to maintain hatred and anger would allow the injustice to win, Mrs. Spence-Farmer pointed out.

PLP Sen. Wayne Caines said the pledge to work together was heart-warming.

Reflecting on the dismal failure of Bermuda's cricketers in Antigua, Junior Sports Minister Caines also spoke about the importance of society as a whole improving its attitude toward achieving success.