United Bermuda Party deputy leader Michael Dunkley has moved quickly to clear his name after an allegation was revealed against him in the Bermuda Housing Corporation fraud trial.

Speaking during the Motion to Adjourn in the House of Assembly, Mr. Dunkley said what alleged fraudster Terrance Smith said about him was wrong, when Smith was confronted by the BHC Board.

Smith accused people of being racist and causing him trouble in his neighbourhood with his arrival, and said: ?I know for a fact that (white politician) Mr. Michael Dunkley, when he found out that a black boy was going in that neighbourhood, he wanted to buy that house.?

However, Mr. Dunkley yesterday said these remarks were manifestly untrue: ?I want to set the record straight. At no time did I ever intend to buy the house or was concerned about anyone moving into the neighbourhood. Those comments were way off base.?

Mr. Dunkley said it was important for politicians to protect their reputations when things said publicly about them were incorrect. Additionally, Mr. Dunkley said PLP spokesman Scott Simmons had accused him of being a racist after they had a debate on a radio talk show.

?I see Simmons has trotted out I was a racist for calling people ?boy?,? Mr. Dunkley said. ?But I remember what I said. Nowhere in the interview did I make those comments.?

Mr. Dunkley said he also listened to a copy of the tape from the radio station but could not find that word.

?The Premier is interpolating that I did say it. But nowhere did I mean to degrade Mr. Simmons,? he said.

Social issues ? like racism ? had polarised the community, he said, however, MPs were often the first to fall down and act disrespectfully to their colleagues.

?I see the honourable member Renee Webb has tabled a motion to talk about these types of things,? he said, referring to a motion the Progressive Labour Party backbencher made for the House to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission based on the South African to assist in healing the country of the vestiges of racism.

The House of Assembly reconvenes on May 5.