The United Bermuda Party threw its weight behind leader Wayne Furbert during a crunch meeting on his future last night.

Pressure had been mounting on him following the damaging departures of MP Jamahl Simmons and party chairwoman Gwyneth Rawlins amid race allegations. Although new chairman Shawn Crockwell admitted there were ?passionate discussions? about leadership at the meeting, he said Mr. Furbert remained firm at the helm. ?There are no divisions within the party. We are moving forward together,? he stressed.

Last week, senior United Bermuda Party parliamentarian Maxwell Burgess called on Mr. Furbert to resign after slating him for his handling of the internal party splits.

Mr. Crockwell said although Mr. Burgess stuck to his guns last night: ?Mr. Furbert entered the meeting as our leader and left the meeting as our leader, with the support of his colleagues. There was no challenge to his leadership. Now the United Bermuda Party will apply its sole focus on the challenges confronting this country and we will offer this country a more credible and responsive Government moving forward.?

Mr. Burgess left without comment, and did not return calls afterwards. Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr. Furbert had indicated he would not cling to power in the face of a challenge. ?If my colleagues feel my time is up I would abide by their wishes and bow out gracefully. I am here to serve the people of Bermuda,? he said.

Looking relieved as he exited the three-and-a-half hour meeting, Mr. Furbert declined to comment other than repeating the words: ?It?s a beautiful day.?

Mr. Crockwell acknowledged there had been a discussion about the departures of Mr. Simmons and Ms Rawlins and questions were asked about what went wrong.

Mr. Simmons quit earlier this month claiming a racist clique sought to oust him from his Pembroke West constituency. A little over a week later Ms Rawlins resigned, alleging that a white elite controlled the party.

Mr. Crockwell said many members felt bewildered about recent events but ?we are more united as a result of this adversity.?

He challenged the pair to name and shame those they felt had wronged them. He promised disciplinary action against anyone who acted ?in a racial manner? toward Mr. Simmons, if this could be substantiated, and added: ?We are saying to Ms Rawlins that if there?s someone in a dark smoky room making all the decisions for the United Bermuda Party, we would like to know who it is. We don?t know who she?s referring to.?

Several of the party?s 14 MPs had rallied behind Mr. Furbert ahead of the meeting including deputy leader Michael Dunkley, David Dodwell, Suzann Roberts-Holshouser, John Barritt, Louise Jackson and Trevor Moniz. Others, like former leader Grant Gibbons and Education spokesman Neville Darrell, refused to comment saying it was an internal party manner.

The meeting of the party caucus had been due on Monday, but was postponed until last night because Mr. Furbert, Patricia Gordon Pamplin, Bob Richards and Mr. Dunkley were all away.

A slot originally earmarked for Mr. Furbert to address the nation on TV last night was pulled, with him telling this newspaper that his speech was not ready. However, Mr. Crockwell pledged that the leader would give an address soon, although did not name a date.

One source close to the party speculated earlier yesterday that this would be the speech of Mr. Furbert?s career, in which he would have to promise to tackle the party?s internal problems head on and then offer a vision for Bermuda.

?He cannot fumble or look weak or indecisive,? said the insider.