A row about race and politics was ignited in the House of Assembly on Friday by Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons' Budget Reply comments that the Progressive Labour Party was voted in in 1998 because many people thought that "life in Bermuda would improve just because a black political party finally controlled the government".

The comments came at the end of the Speech in which Dr. Gibbons criticised the PLP's record and vowed the UBP would do better if it formed the next Government.

But the remarks - including a statement that people voted with their hearts in electing the PLP in 1998 - drew interjections from Government MPs and the House had to be brought to order by Speaker Stanley Lowe.

PLP members accused Dr. Gibbons of racism and insulting the electorate.

"You could think that. But you wrote it," said Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister.

"He's racist, he doesn't know what he's saying," interjected Tourism Minister Renee Webb.

In a statement yesterday, Dr. Gibbons said that he fully understood "that people voted with their hearts and minds in 1998, and the bottom line is that a majority of Bermudians said the United Bermuda Party wasn't addressing their concerns".

"We took that to heart and have spent the last four years working on ways to ensure that all Bermudians can participate in the mainstream of Bermuda's economic and social life. Some of these ideas were spelled out in our Budget Reply."

He added: "In the lead-up to the last election, the PLP did suggest that things would improve if a black political party controlled the government.

"As I said in the Budget Reply, the United Bermuda Party believes that the colour of Bermuda's government doesn't guarantee fairness, honesty or transparency. It doesn't guarantee a healthy, diversified economy that keeps us steady in an uncertain world."

When asked at a Press conference on Friday, he said it was quite possible that the entire Speech was not vetted by his caucus since there was a very short window of time to prepare the Budget Reply.

Asked what she thought of the comments, Shadow Home affairs Minister Pat Gordon Pamplin said that the PLP was the race-obsessed party.

"Truth be told. No more than five minutes before that comment was made, a Government Minister said the mistake the (UBP) made was to have a white leader," she said.

"The same individual said to me the only reason I was voted in was because I'm Pam's sister. Now there's this righteous indignation that they are not being given credit for their intelligence. So I say what is the real story ? Don't just be melodramatic, be real."

Erwin Adderley, Shadow Works and Engineering Minister also defended the comments, saying that he could not understand why the PLP took exception when their election campaigning in 1998 amounted to a "guilt trip" on the electorate.

"There was an encouragement to say `vote for us because we're black, and if you don't vote for us you're saying a black government can't run the country'."

He said while a lot of people decided to give the PLP a chance it doesn't mean that if they do a bad job that meant that black people can't run the Country, only that the PLP can't run the Country, he said.

"It has to be said they started it in 1998 and I know some people bought into that. The question is can the PLP run the country? And the answer is not too well."

Health Minister Ewart Brown picked up the theme again in the Budget Debate, saying that, for the PLP, the heart and head were in the same place when making decisions.

"That is interpreted on our side as insulting. It implies the heart had a role in decisions but the head did not.

"When someone says to us `you made a decision with your heart' we say `and ... what's wrong with that?'

"We make no apology for the part played by the heart. I believe our supporters voted with their hearts and their minds and believe it is OK for the heart and the mind to speak with one voice to elect the government of the day. If you (the UBP), think you can erase that component, we are guaranteed further victories."