Race activist Dr. Eva Hodgson last night challenged the United Bermuda Party (UBP) to publicly acknowledge that white people created segregation and were still benefiting economically from its long-term effects.

The founder of the National Association of Reconciliation told a meeting of the Pembroke West branch of the party: ?Black people as well as white people need to hear white people saying it because they don?t believe it?s true unless white people are saying it.?

She said that inequalities in pay with regard to black and white workers showed that segregation was still benefiting the white community.

And she urged the UBP ? which she said represented the white community ? to take out ?large-scale advertisements? and send letters detailing the origins of slavery and segregation.

?The UBP can at this moment make a difference by sending out a note to all of their members, a letter, reminding them of how and when segregation began,? she said.

?It should be perfectly evident to everybody that in today?s world the black community is still paying the price of segregation.?

She said the UBP needed to stop blaming the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) for racial divisions on the Island since it had, for thirty years, encouraged white people to join its ranks, with minimal success.

?Segregation did not grow up overnight, it didn?t begin with the PLP,? she said. ?We are living with a history of racism and segregation.

?To say ?I?m not responsible? as a white person isn?t solving the problem. Certainly it?s white people maintaining it when they pay different salaries to black and white people.?

She added that ?controversial remarks? on race made by PLP politicians such as Col. David Burch were of recent origin.

Dr. Hodgson spoke out at a meeting on race and economic empowerment, at which UBP MP Jamahl Simmons and UBP Senate Leader Kim Swan were the main speakers.

Sen. Swan told Dr. Hodgson: ?I do not represent a white party. I represent an inclusive party.?

He said the UBP was committed to improving race relations and accused the PLP of launching a ?tirade of get-evenship? after it won power in 1998.

He added: ?There are those in our midst who want to keep us divided because it is politically expedient for them to do so.?