Bank of Bermuda director Dennis Tucker yesterday categorically denied that he planned to testify against the bank at a Human Rights Commission board of Inquiry.

In a letter to the Editor, Mr. Tucker said he was "shocked" to read a story in Saturday's paper which reported that the complainant had withdrawn his name from a racial discrimination charge against the bank's directors.

Businessman Harold Darrell won a court hearing last month which held that the complaint should go to a board of inquiry.

Mr. Darrell's spokesman Corey Butterfield provided a copy of a letter the businessman had written to the HRC on Thursday asking for Mr. Tucker's name to be withdrawn because he had decided to testify against the bank.

"Nothing could be further from the truth," Mr. Tucker said yesterday. "I cannot remember specifically the date on which I last had a substantial conversation with Mr. Darrell but it is more than a year ago and it certainly was not on the issue of his unfounded complaint against the bank."

Mr.Tucker goes on to say that he would not remain as a bank director if he believed Mr. Darrell's allegations to be true, and that any testimony he gives would "not lend support or credence to Mr. Darrell's falsehoods."

"This recent fabrication concerning my supposed support for him is further proof to me that he is on a vendetta against the bank in circumstances where he is wrong."

Mr. Darrell's letter described Mr. Tucker as a "lone voice of reason" in the dispute in which he is alleging that the bank racially discriminated against him by failing to act when an internal investigation found in his favour.

The bank maintains that no investigation took place.

"Mr. Tucker will also testify that after formally lodging his objections with the bank's then CEO and his fellow Directors concerning their proposed strategy for handling my matter, he recused himself from having any further discussion or involvement as it related to me or my matter. Mr. Tucker will further testify that because he was so distressed and opposed to the Directors' and the bank's then CEO's strategy, he retained his own lawyer to advise and personally represent him in these proceedings," the letter continued.

Mr. Butterfield applauded Mr. Tucker's courage last week, saying his testimony would make their case easier, but Mr. Tucker declined to comment for the story saying he was not familiar with the contents of the letter and was not in a position to comment.

Mr. Corey Butterfield could not be reached for comment.