The National Liberal Party (NLP) has accused Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister of having a racist immigration policy after he called for employers to hire more black expatriates from the Caribbean.

Mr. Lister told the Bermuda Sun that companies should seek out more black expatriates so that foreign workers would better reflect the racial make-up of the Island.

"It is my hope we will get a better racial mix (of expatriates), one which reflects Bermuda," said Mr. Lister.

NLP vice-chairman Graeme Outerbridge said: "The most important thing in considering any application is ability, training competency, attitude and ethics.

"Race and geography should play no role in the process. The remarks made by Minister Terry Lister to the Bermuda Sun that employers should seek out black expatriates from the Caribbean is racist, and (is) prejudice in the extreme."

Mr. Outerbridge added: "The mistakes of the past do not empower the Minister to institutionalise a racist immigration policy against all others who are not black. The minister seems to court controversy as a means of attracting attention at the expense of reasoned thought.

"The tragic war between Israel and the Palestinians underlines the complete tragedy that overtakes countries when politicians use race as a weapon to fuel a cause against the higher value of our humanity," he continued. "The Minister needs the support of all Bermudians and rather than conducting racial profiling, he should be creating more entry level opportunities for our returning Bermudian college graduates.

"Comments like the recent ones by Minister Lister will not be tolerated any more than comments of a similar vein from other quarters by the NLP. Act for the best for all Bermudians and residents or leave office."