The tornado force controversy ignited by Tony Brannon this week was so far reaching it has apparently taken a swipe at the reputation of Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell.

Consultant to the Premier Rolfe Commissiong has suggested Mr. Dodwell, who was quoted in the original story, did not do his part to condemn Mr. Brannon's offensive remarks.

Mr. Commissiong told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "It is quite evident throughout the black community, and right thinking white Bermudians, that there's a terrible sense of insult that has been conveyed by him (Tony Brannon).

"What I found even more disturbing, when the story first broke last Wednesday with those egregious comments uttered by Mr. Brannon, the final third of the story contained comments by MP David Dodwell who ironically enough was a former Shadow Minister on Race Relations.

"And what disturbed me about Mr. Dodwell was what he didn't say.

"He defended Mr. Brannon's rights by way of freedom of expression, he defended Mr. Brannon's right to place those comments or utilise the medium of YouTube to disseminate his views, but did not even take one sentence to express his unhappiness, his disapproval of the broad characterisation of black Bermudians as having caused the demise of tourism."

When contacted last night for a response, Mr. Dodwell said: "This is typical of Rolfe Commissiong making something when it doesn't exist and I'm going to call it electioneering.

"He's totally out of order on this one."

Mr. Dodwell owns The Reefs and Nine Beaches hotel properties which both have reputations for hiring an overwhelming majority of Bermudian workers.

Mr. Dodwell said when called about the original story the reporter only asked about the affect blog comments can have on Bermuda tourism.

At that point, according to the MP said, he had not even seen Mr. Brannon's YouTube posting.

"I didn't know anything about it," Mr. Dodwell explained over the telephone, "I had not at that time read the statement."

He said: "I have spent the last 35 years of my life working in the hospitality industry investing in Bermuda, employing Bermudians black and white, putting my money where my mouth is!

"My staff black and white know that I am not a racist and have never been so."

Mr. Commissiong did not specifically call Mr. Dodwell a racist, but said: "At the very least it shows his insensitivity."

Mr. Brannon apologised yesterday for insulting black Bermudians, one day after the Bermuda Industrial Union demanded he do so.

Mr. Commissiong, who counsels the Premier on race and other issues, found a silver lining in the Brannon online rant.

He said: "Out of bad some good can occasionally take place and I think the good thing here is: it may confirm that amongst some whites in Bermuda those types of views expressed by Mr. Brannon are frequently discussed behind closed doors.

"If anything we can thank Mr. Brannon for finally bringing the type of views that we have always felt were discussed behind closed doors into the public domain.

"In a perverse way one may look at it as a positive development."

Meantime Mr. Dodwell, who is now fully appraised of what Mr. Brannon said, offered this reaction:"I think his comments were completely inappropriate and shouldn't be accepted."

And as for his potentially bruised reputation as a result of this row, the hotel owner said: "My record on race is clear. And I stand by it."