An investigation by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) into Government Minister David Burch?s comments about ?house niggers? is due to conclude ?very, very soon?, according to its chairman.

But Rod Attride-Stirling toldlast week that the outcome of the case may not be made public.

Shadow Finance Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin made the complaint to the HRC last summer after Senator Burch cut off a caller on his Sunday evening Hott 107.5 FM call-in show.

The Works and Engineering and Housing Minister ? who was not a cabinet member at the time he made his remark ? appeared to refer to black supporters of the Opposition United Bermuda Party (UBP) as ?house niggers?.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin described the remark as ?inflammatory and racially divisive?. Sen. Burch later defended the comment in the Senate.

Mr. Attride-Stirling said it would ?certainly not be months and perhaps not even weeks? before the matter was concluded.

He added: ?The Human Rights Commission doesn?t discuss with the Press complaints that are active. When the matter is concluded at that point there may or may not be some form of press release but we are not at that point yet.

?Hopefully, it will be very, very soon.?

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said she would expect the Government and any committee appointed to do its work to be transparent.

?I certainly hope that it is made public,? she said. ?However, given the way that this Government has operated historically, I think it might be too much to expect.?