United Bermuda Party Leader Dr. Grant Gibbons reaffirmed his party's commitment to bridging Bermuda's racial divide over the weekend and scolded Government for attempting to "rewrite" the UBP's record on race relations over the past six years.

Addressing a crowd of party stalwarts at a lunch celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the UBP, Dr.Gibbons said that his party had "laid the foundations for remarkable social and economic progress" after more than three decades in government and insisted that they would continue to address the issue of race in order to foster a society of "inclusion and unity".

"We recognise that this will not be easy," he said.

"But we are willing to expose ourselves to the challenges of this issue rather than hiding from them. We believe that Bermuda's future success, and the success of every Bermudian, depends on getting this right."

Among the 80 people in attendance on Saturday wereformer Parliamentarians and Senators, and current Parliamentarians, Senators and Party Officers.

There were also a number of individuals there who served in Parliament from the beginning; they included Clarence James, John Barritt Senior, Jim Woolridge, Bill Cox, Anita Smith, Gloria McPhee, Sir Richard Gorham and Shorty Trimingham.

Paying tribute to the array of politicians both past and present, Dr.Gibbons thanked his audience for devoting "countless and often thankless hours" to public service and argued that they should be proud of creating the "economic and social marvel that Bermuda is today".

"Perhaps you have noticed that others have attempted to rewrite our history, particularly over the last six years. But the facts speak for themselves," he continued.

Reeling off a long list of the UBP's achievements since its formation in 1964, Dr.Gibbons pointed to the desegregation of local public schools, the establishment of the Human Rights Commission and the introduction of legislation to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity and gender as evidence of the UBP's long-term commitment to racial tolerance.

"In 2004, as a top priority, we must continue to address and improve race relations by fighting polarisation and divisiveness," he concluded.

"Our vision for one Bermuda, where there is opportunity for all and special privilege for none, and where success is achieved through unity, will continue to define the United Bermuda Party."