Helen Foster, the keynote speaker for the Labour Day celebrations, came to Bermuda for therapy after witnessing the assassination of Councillor James Davis in New York's City Hall, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Ms Foster was sitting opposite Mr. Davis when he was gunned down by a political rival and used a Cup Match weekend trip to help get over the tragedy.

"It was very therapeutic for me at a difficult time," said Ms Foster, whose mother is Bermudian.

"Bathing in the waters of Horseshoe Bay was just what I needed. I was only 15ft away at the time, and yes it did affect me. I'd never seen someone murdered before, I'd never seen gunfire at close range before. It was my unfortunate task to witness his assassination and you would have to be less than human not to be affected by something like that."

Ms Foster, the first Afro-American woman to be elected to City Hall from Bronx County, flew into the Island yesterday and will be here until Wednesday. The decision to offer her the key role in leading the speeches at the Labour Day banquet tonight and the celebrations on Monday was taken back in February.

"I was over here speaking at the Progressive Labour Party's 40th Anniversary and that is when I was approached," said Ms Foster, a visitor to Bermuda every year since her birth "30 something" years ago. "I'm totally honoured to be give this role. I believe I have an important message to put across and this is a very special occasion to have that opportunity.

"I remember coming to a Labour Day banquet many years ago and what a special event it was. I know that the numbers have dropped in recent years but I would like to see them up there again.

"Labour Day is about a movement and without pushing and agitation that movement will die - and that is something we are not going to let happen. The dinosaur died out because it didn't change. We have to adapt to the changing mores and values of society but we can't forget what has gone before.

"The theme of my Labour Day address will be the importance of making sure that if we are to continue to progress we let young people know from whence they came."

Ms Foster, a trained lawyer, is the daughter of Reverend Wendell Foster, who played a key role in desegregation in the 1950s when pastor of St. Paul AME in Hamilton.