Deputy United Bermuda Party leader Michael Dunkley has hit back at former leader Sir John Swan's claims that the party's hierarchy is white dominated.

Sir John, who was Premier for 13 years, said recently the party's leadership was a turn off to voters and potential black candidates alike.

And he openly questioned whether Mr. Dunkley and leader Grant Gibbons, as well as senior figures like David Dodwell and John Barritt, could bring electoral success to the party after its second defeat last summer.

But Mr. Dunkley said blacks had endorsed the criticised candidates at the ballot box.

He said: “David Dodwell's seat, I would guess, is 75-85 percent black while my seat is 75 percent black.

“I respect Sir John and he's entitled to his opinion but in this case I disagree.”

He said leadership should be about ability and character not colour and that if the country felt colour was the issue people should make their views known to the UBP caucus who could change the party's leadership.

Mr. Dunkley, who won the Best of Bermuda Gold Award for ‘Shadow Minister in the Limelight' in 2001 and the ‘Most Effective Shadow Minister' in both 2000 and 2002, pointed out that PLP supporter Julian Hall had praised his non-racist credentials.

In a March 7, 2003 interview in the Bermuda Sun Mr. Hall had said Mr. Dunkley was a nice guy who did his research, had a sense of empathy and could appeal to both black and white Bermudians.

Mr. Hall was quoted as saying: “He doesn't appear to have a racist bone in his body. He seems to me more sincere and committed than most.”

Mr. Dunkley said: “I don't like to blow my own trumpet but results speak for themselves, people will speak for you, not because you force them but because they believe in what you are trying to do.”

Mr Hall was one, said Mr. Dunkley, even though the pair barely knew each other.

Sir John had compared Dr. Gibbons and Michael Dunkley to the president and vice president of America in their high profile role - a comparison that made no sense in Bermuda's system of politics modelled on Britain's parliament said Mr. Dunkley.

He said: “It's interesting to hear him but sometimes he meanders all over the place.”

Sir John's attack had also slurred the party's new black candidates said Mr. Dunkley.

The former Premier had said: “You saw the candidates, they weren't people you wanted to rush out and vote for.”

Mr. Dunkley said: “It's very unfortunate to criticise our black members. Basically in one fell swoop he wrote off the black members of the party by saying they didn't have the intellectual background.

“I have the highest regard for Jon Brunson and Neville Darrell, they bring a lot to the table.”

He said that, as they became better known their qualities would show through.

By writing off the whites as being unrepresentative and the blacks as having the wrong background, Sir John had written off the whole party said Mr. Dunkley.

The UBP is gearing up to look at the whole issue of race, said Mr. Dunkley.

Eldon DeCouto, the former House Speaker and United Bermuda Party MP for 26 years, also took issue with Sir John's comments.

He said: “I think he was off the mark, it doesn't sound like him. He's usually more consistent.

“He's been in support of the party, and if you are in support you don't wash your dirty linen in public.

“I was a bit amazed and surprised by his stand and that he would try to injure the party to that extent.

“He brings up the white issue, I thought he was above that, that's what the UBP was all about, being above the racial issue.”

The race issue was baggage dragging the country down said Mr. DeCouto. He accused Sir John of having a short memory in questioning the role of whites in the party.

“He is talking about whites and I think he should be careful, you talk about the likes of Sir Henry Tucker who was helpful to Sir John.”

Both Mr. Dunkley and Mr. DeCouto took issue with Sir John's support of Premier Alex Scott in his doomed bid to face down Britain in its choice for Bermuda's new Chief Justice.

Mr. Dunkley said Bermudianisation was important but priority had to be getting the best person for the job.