THE United Bermuda Party should aim to evolve into an all-inclusive political movement that resembles a "coat-of-many-colours" rather than one primarily representing either vested white Bermudian interests or black empowerment, says approved Parliamentary candidate Khalid al-Wasi.

Acknowledging that Bermuda's political atmosphere had become increasingly racially charged in recent months, businessman Mr. al-Wasi said that removing race from the public arena would be a long-term project - but one the UBP could address for both its own and the island's benefit.

"Let's be realistic: the subject of cultural diversity and dialogue in Bermuda is still very much in its infancy," he said. "For the moment, the races are still looking at the world through different lenses.

"We understand very little about how we impact on each other, and even less about how others feel. The Trent Lott scenario of the USA and recent comments about the dislocation of black land owners from Tucker's Town during the 1920s at a Rotary lunch by lawyer Peter Smith - and the subsequent response and non-response by the blacks and whites respectively - are prime examples of how our sensitivities are polarised along racial lines."

A long-time political activist and commentator, Mr. al-Wasi said Bermuda's current political structure grew out of a race struggle in the 1950s so it should be no surprise that race has been the dominant factor since the two-party, Westminster-style political system was introduced to the island 35 years ago.

"Attempts to move beyond will naturally be treated with suspicion," he said. "For instance, Bryant Trew, a wonderfully gifted young writer, made interesting comments about the UBP campaign launch at St. Paul Centennial Hall. He challenged what he saw of the opening, which in his eyes was very spirited and laced with what we've known as black spirituals. He questioned what he considered a display to dramatise the UBP now as having truly gone black.

"Had he attended the UBP annual banquet, which was filled with even more black expression, he really would have done a double-take!

"His response was innocent, and reflects the stereotype that the UBP is a white party. The Anglican Cathedral might have been the expected venue and not an African Methodist hall, with a spirited rendition of God Save The Queen as an opening.

"What Bryant Trew is saying, perhaps, is that no amount of gombeys and conga drums will ever convince him that the UBP has 'gone black'. And certainly the dub poet Ras Mykkal, who was also at the UBP event at Centennial Hall, wasn't lured off the fence. 'Where's the beef?' he seemed to be asking after the event."

Mr. al-Wasi said what both men saw was just the first ripple of a complete black expression emanating from within and around the UBP.

"It is not just a case that, after 35 years, the balance within the UBP needs to be shifted away from whites and towards blacks," he said. "It is also natural that, as the UBP grapples with issues like economic empowerment, the rebuilding of black communities, education, and the redirection of black males, that black voices within the UBP should come to the fore.

"If this is successful - and I think it will be -- the organisation will begn to look like a coat of many colours . . . not just in appearance but in essence."

The goal for Opposition Leader Dr. Grant Gibbons went beyond finding an electable team for the forthcoming General Election, said Mr. al-Wasi. He not only had to reflect a white perspective, but he must facilitate the growth of a truly black perspective which he himself could not provide.

"The Progressive Labour Party does not have that problem," said Mr. al-Wasi. "The PLP's idea is that, through a deliberate Government-facilitated black empowerment - with or without white support - genuine dialogue will eventually begin, but only after there is sufficient black economic strength.

"The PLP's underlying assumption is that Bermuda whites are uncompromising and lack the ability to arrive at a mutual rapprochement with Bermuda's blacks. The PLP therefore endorses a racially separatist approach. Grant's task is to disprove the PLP hypothesis."

Mr. al-Wasi said an analogy with Bermuda's local socio/political situation could be - on a very large scale - the Cold War standoff between the superpowers, where the basis for what grudging dialogue existed between them throughout most of that conflict was based on the premise of "mutually assured destruction" if hostilities actually broke out.

"It was the new axiom of 'assurance of mutual survival' which effectively ended the Cold War, ushering in a new era of global co-operation, the result of the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan," said Mr. al-Wasi. "In a similar way the role of Grant would be to pave the way on a local level for the 'assurance of mutual survival'."

During the 1970s, while the black Sir Edward Richards was Premier, blacks in the UBP began to meet privately on issues facing the black community and also to discuss issues affecting them within the UBP Parliamentary Group.

"The media quickly labelled them the Black Caucus," said Mr. al-Wasi. "The group came under tremendous pressure and its efforts at remaining together as a focus group dwindled. Along with their demise ended any attempts at putting an early signature of a black identity on the UBP.

"A good test for today's UBP will be on how it adapts to a black focus. No doubt there is the talk and willingness, but all eyes will be focused on how it is translated into reality. Will it take the form of a new Black Caucus? What is the appropriate format to discuss and deliver on special interest in a diverse organisation?

"Indeed, should the views of blacks be viewed as a 'special interest' at all in a predominantly black island? Are the views of blacks as a special interest compromised in a diverse setting?

"In any event, I'm sure the intellectuals in our country would agree that the process for a truly representative multiracial political organisation must be reignited in earnest."

Mr. al-Wasi said that in his opinion, this goal could not be achieved by any kind of mystical "racial transcendence" but rather through the exercise of practical and day-to-day racial awareness and appreciation.

"The reality for the UBP is it has no choice in the matter: it will either develop a black expression or die," he said. "The reality for Bermuda as a whole is similar. We will either develop political and cultural diversity or sink deeper into racial polarisation - which into today's world is an equivalent to death."

Mr. al-Wasi referred to the early 1970s hit tune Nassau's Gone Funky. "Get used to it, Bryant: The UBP's going to get funky too," he said. "The UBP cannot and will not survive, as we've known it. It will have to change into an entirely new type of organisation. In fact, both parties, as they've existed over the years, are woefully inappropriate for Bermuda's future well-being.

"I am sure both parties want to change because the times demand it. However, far too much attention is placed on finding new candidates; it's the political system itself that needs renewal. It's a new message that we need, not just new messengers."

Mr. al-Wasi said the tide of globalisation challenged the whole island - and the more vulnerable black community, being less economically prepared as a whole, was in a swim-or-sink faster mode.

"This phenomenon compels anyone who is rational to realise that our best option is a multicultural approach," he said. "The blacks in the UBP have that good sense of urgency to bring the country together in order for it to meet the challenge of a changing world.

"The blacks in the broader community, who can understand the larger dilemma, must take ownership, get out of the box and create a new bridge of understanding across the entire community.

"Without a well thought-out plan, the global trend will position a few blacks into a supra-economic bracket - but the masses will be locked even more profoundly to the bottom. It will be difficult to survive the next 30 years without a plan that will broaden the economic prospects for the masses."