years, said the Hon. Mr. Robert (Bobby) Barritt yesterday. But party politics and limited powers under the Act may have kept us from moving ahead even faster.

"The first time I spoke in public on human rights was as the Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs at the Hamilton Lions Club,'' he said. "The first question I got was along the lines of `If Government expects business to watch its p's and q's as far as human rights are concerned in business, did I think it was fair for Government to be exempt from the Act?' "With no hesitation, I said I thought Government should be bound as well...Obviously it becomes tricky in certain areas such as immigration and Police where a lot of work is confidential but I felt it was wrong for Government not to be included.'' The 65-year-old former politician became, on Sunday, one of the first two recipients of a Human Rights Commission award.

He became politically active with the United Bermuda Party in 1972 and was appointed to the Senate in 1983 and elected to the House of Assembly for Pembroke East Central only two years later.

"I'm a great believer that if you're going to deal with some sort of difficult issue, particularly racial issues, it's better to deal with a group out of the spotlight. That way things can be said without people being suspicious as to whether there are political motives. The party political system becomes another way of separating races.'' Educated in a segregated system locally, Mr. Barritt said he "saw Bermuda in a different light'' after he returned from schooling abroad.

"When Roosevelt (Brown) organised universal adult suffrage, a lot of us got together and talked about Bermuda's problems and what should be done. A lot of (different races) got to know each other better.

"Out of all that came a better Bermuda. I think in the last 30 years, it's just unbelievable the positive change that we've been through without that much upheaval. But we've still got a long way to go.'' Mr. Barritt said amendments to the Act will make it much stronger. Rights included are those of the disabled and landlords and tenants. Also added are Government class action and sexual harassment laws. The Commission will also be able to accept oral complaints.

But he added: "I don't think we can rely on the Human Rights Act. The people really have to be concerned about Bermuda. I'm a people person. I just happen to love Bermuda and her people and try and make it a better place to live in.''