Former labour leader Ottiwell Simmons should be honoured with a knighthood, the Opposition United Bermuda Party said yesterday.

Such an honour would be a fitting tribute to the labour movement itself, said acting Opposition Leader Kim Swan at the Labour Day celebration at Bernard Park.

The remarks came at the end of his speech which paid tribute to the labour movement and called on Bermuda to focus on the future, learn the lessons of history and making a commitment not to repeat them.

Senator Swan also exhorted the audience to work towards "one Bermuda".

He reminded the audience that 12 percent of Bermuda residents are poor and 18 percent near poor.

"We have in our midst large numbers of our people finding the going tough and they are frustrated," Sen. Swan said.

"Whilst Government is drowning in the waters of fiscal waste, mismanagement and inaction on social issues, and plays the blame and denial game to avoid accountability, it's the average working man and woman who are ultimately paying the price."

But Sen Swan said that the greatest challenge was coming together as "One Bermuda".

"We tend to spend too much time focusing on the past ills of racism and bigotry that overtly plagued our country in the past, while not focusing enough on how we can make the future better," he said.

"And in our political arena the populace's misgivings and insecurities about race are strategically used to further polarize us as a people."

He said achieving "One Bermuda" would take courage and require people to step out of their comfort zone.

"Working toward One Bermuda will require whites to come to the table of reconciliation and understand the pain that many Blacks still harbour," he said.

"Working towards One Bermuda will require many blacks to put aside the apprehension and mistrust many may feel and encourage whites to the table of togetherness."

And he pointed out that former South African president Nelson Mandela had not allowed his spirit to be "overcome with bitterness" despite having spent more than two decades in prison.

Sen. Swan's colleague David Dodwell struck a chord when he noted that not too many in the audience "look like me".

"I can stand here as a white guy and tell you that it is not right. I'm prepared even now to talk to people who look like me to make Bermuda work. We've got to talk honestly and we've all got to do that," he said.

"Politically, socially and, yes, racially I commit myself to the future. There's no other way."