Church leaders and politicians yesterday gave cautious support to a Truth and Reconciliation process for Bermuda.

Retiring Anglican Bishop Ewen Ratteray had called for a committee much like the one in South Africa for Bermuda because of the increased polarisation he sees between the races. And yesterday Catholic Bishop Robert Kurtz agreed the Island was polarised, but was cautious about the benefit of a Truth and Reconciliation Committee.

“I do think the Island is polarised. Maybe not more than ever before, but the people I am talking to are feeling very tense. I think the Bermuda Housing Corporation investigation has given impetus to the racial division,” he said.

“There are already a lot of people struggling to get people together and I’m not sure how the commission would be constituted and how it would be operated.”

Michael Dunkley, UBP Opposition Leader, however, threw his weight behind the Bishop’s call for a Truth and Reconciliation process and said he planned to continue the discussion. Mr. Dunkley said: “Bermuda needs more truth and more reconciliation among its people and so we support the spirit and the intent behind Bishop Ratteray’s call.

“Indeed, I will be meeting with him to discuss his thinking and how to take it forward.”

Bishop Ratteray was speaking in an interview with The Royal Gazette about the division that occurs along race lines when there is a controversy in Bermuda.

While he believes there needs to be a discussion on race, much like the one initiated by Premier Ewart Brown, the Bishop also feels the discussion needs to be structured and non-partisan.

That is why he says he supports a Truth and Reconciliation Committee like the one held in South Africa after the end of Apartheid, which led to a complete airing of grievances. Supporting the Bishop’s call for a non-partisan process, Mr. Dunkley criticised Dr. Brown’s race relations initiative that he said was partisan.

He added: “We do believe that any such initiative will only truly succeed if it is free from partisan political manipulation.

“The Government’s current initiative — ‘The Big Conversation’ — is a case in point. It is headed by Mr. Rolfe Commissiong, a political operative employed by Dr. Brown.

“Mr. Commissiong, in his statements, has missed few opportunities to cast aspersions on the United Bermuda Party, and so we have come to believe he is using the higher aims of The Big Conversation for partisan ends.”

However, Mr. Commissiong, who said he supports a Truth and Reconciliation Committee, defended the Bermuda Race Relations Initiatives (BRRI) saying it previously received bipartisan support. “I wish the real UBP would stand up,” he said.

“At the time Wayne Furbert was the leader of the UBP, he supported the initiatives. Also endorsing the initiatives was Gina Spence-Farmer. Michael Dunkley is serving up some sour milk.”