Back-of-town MP Ashfield DeVent yesterday dubbed consultant Rolfe Commissiong's stance on race "frightening" — and urged young black men to stop looking for excuses for their bad behaviour.

Mr. DeVent said the Premier's adviser's tunnel vision has caused him to blame Bermuda's problems on racism. He added that by repeatedly describing black people as victims, Mr. Commissiong effectively encourages them not to take responsibility for their own actions.

Meanwhile the Progressive Labour Party backbencher said he has received such a positive reaction to his call for a big conversation on drugs he no longer thinks he'll have to bang that drum on his own.

About 30 people have contacted Mr. DeVent since he said he was considering a private members' bill on Bermuda's drugs laws, from all corners of society, all of whom agree the Island needs a debate on the subject.

He said around half were in favour of decriminalisation of cannabis, with the other half against, and he now hopes the PLP can take the matter to the House of Assembly.

The biggest critic of his suggestion had been Mr. Commissiong, who argued drugs were merely a symptom of Bermuda's main problems, and that the root cause was the socioeconomic marginalisation of blacks.

He accused Mr. DeVent of being an invisible MP on issues such as racial equality.

Mr. DeVent says while he has been off the Island some of his constituents were called to a meeting by Mr. Commissiong, who he suspects wants to challenge his Pembroke South East seat.

"When I returned and read the paper I was somewhat shocked that the Government's race adviser had made what appeared to me to be almost a personal attack with regard to what I have said," Mr. DeVent told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"My record is clear: I have spoken consistently about the inequalities in my constituency and the need to address that, part of that being the reasons for crime coming from this area.

"I may not have tied everything to race. I don't think all bad behaviour can be tied directly to race.

"I think that almost tied to that, he has been in my area, trying to organise people against me in what appears to be an attempt to challenge for my seat.

"At no time do I discount the effects of racism or unfair treatment of any person or people. I myself have had issues from race. Being born in the 1950s, I have seen the inequalities and the unfair treatment you can get.

"But I also grew up in an area where we all knew that existed. People knew that it was unfair but I wasn't allowed to use that as an excuse for bad behaviour.

"In a working-class household I was told it exists, it will probably always exist, but that's why you have to work twice as hard as that guy to achieve the same thing.

"It sends a bad message, particularly to young people, to make it seem that racism is a reason to perform some bad deeds."

Mr. DeVent says blacks need to develop a mindset of self empowerment, which can only come with self responsibility.

"When a man takes up a gun to rob a bank or to shoot somebody, he can claim that's racism, or he didn't get enough hugs from his girl, or enough kisses from his mommy," he said.

"At the end of the day, that's a choice, when you are an adult, that you can take, and only you can take. Be responsible for it.

"Don't simply sit back and say everything's a symptom of racism. That's frightening. It sets a frightening precedent.

"Take responsibility. The one strength that we had, working-class people, was that we knew to achieve anything you had to be disciplined.

"You didn't have racism for excuses. Even though you wanted to say 'woe is me', it wasn't allowed. Your parents demanded the best of you, whether it was behaviour or anything else.

"Maybe because Mr. Commissiong gets paid to specifically speak on race he's doing some of this with tunnel vision. Racism plays a part but it's more complex than just racism."

PLP Senator Walton Brown, backbencher Terry Lister, former chairman David Burt and party organiser Makai Dickerson are among those who have backed calls for a debate on Bermuda's drugs laws.

"I'm pleased that some of my colleagues have at least indicated that they think it's worth a conversation," said Mr. DeVent.

"It's been overwhelming. People have dropped off information — pros and cons — and I'm still wading through all that now. I was pleasantly surprised, because finally people are prepared to take a stand and be counted.

"I've still not made a firm conclusion where to go from here. I'm not necessarily pushing decriminalisation, but what I'm saying is let's discuss it as an option. I will talk to those who have indicated some agreement and then see."