A Bank of Bermuda director has decided to give evidence against the bank in a racial discrimination complaint with the Human Rights Commission, according to the complainant.

Businessman Harold Darrell recently won a court hearing that the HRC should hear his complaint, which alleges that the bank had racially discriminated against him by failing to act on the results of an internal bank investigation which found in his favour.

The bank, for its part, has said that no investigation took place.

After years of legal wrangling, the Supreme Court cleared the way for the hearing to take place when it issued a ruling against the bank last month.

The discrimination complaint, which is made against the directors of the bank, will be heard by the HRC in a public hearing unless the bank succeeds in a planned appeal.

On Thursday, Mr. Darrell wrote to the HRC saying that he was withdrawing the name of Dennis Tucker from his complaint.

?I maintain my complaint of racial discrimination against the bank?s then CEO and remaining directors and endeavour to vigorously expose their abuse of my human rights at the pending Human Rights Board of Inquiry,? reads the letter which was made available to

?Mr. Tucker has stood as a lone voice of reason in my matter at the bank?s Board level and has vowed to tell the truth. Despite the bank?s assertion that Mr. Alan Richardson the bank?s then vice president of Retail Clients never conducted an inquiry into my complaint, Mr. Tucker will testify that not only did Mr. Richardson conduct an inquiry into my complaint, but he (Mr. Richardson) also made a determination in my favour and that was reported to the bank?s then CEO and Directors, both orally and in writing, to no avail.?

Mr. Darrell?s letter continues: ?Mr. Tucker will also testify that after formally lodging his objections with the bank?s then CEO and his fellow Directors concerning their proposed strategy for handling my matter, he recused himself from having any further discussion or involvement as it related to me or my matter. Mr. Tucker will further testify that because he was so distressed and opposed to the Directors? and the bank?s then CEO?s strategy, he retained his own lawyer to advise and personally represent him in these proceedings.

?Mr. Tucker will testify that is also his belief that the Directors and the bank?s then CEO implemented this heavy handed strategy in dealing with my matter because of the contempt they hold against black Bermudian businessmen like me, and believing that I did not have the financial wherewithal to see this complaint to its end.?

When contacted Mr. Tucker said he was not familiar with the contents of Mr. Darrell?s letter and was not in a position to comment. ?Mr. Tucker is being very courageous and we applaud his desire to stand for what is right and we eagerly anticipate his evidence at the Board of Inquiry,? said company spokesman Corey Butterfield.

?It just makes proving what we know to be the case a bit easier because we would have it directly from a former respondent.?

Hardell spokesman Corey Butterfield could not say how Mr. Tucker had come to his decision to testify against the bank.

?I don?t know. Mr. Darrell came in and said that he had had a conversation with Mr. Tucker and he then spoke to the Commission and they suggested he put it in writing which Mr. Darrell has done.?

?Mr. Darrell has been confronted with a wall of silence up until recently and it might have been their decision to appeal that caused this development. I don?t know.?