AS Bermuda basks in the glory of the arrival of the newly- built schooner Spirit of Bermuda, supposedly a seagoing symbol of a united Bermuda, here on the ground in 21st-century Bermuda a different reality is showing itself — one that I think demonstrates we remain as racially divided as a country as we ever were.In a recent Commentary I wrote of the social and economic divide between Bermudians and the growing non-Bermudian population — a situation which I likened to the metaphor of the elephant which sits in the Bermudian front room, an elephant everyone tries to politely ignore.

In regards to this latest circumstance, another image speaks to the racial divide which continues in our country, that of the 600-pound gorilla who not only resides in the Bermudian bedroom with regards to race relations, but sleeps in the same bed with the rest of us.

Perhaps I should not make such pessimistic comments in regards to race relations so soon after the arrival of the Spirit of Bermuda, which is supposed to become a symbol of Bermudian unity.

But I could not ignore the bitter irony that was so much in evidence around the same time that a newly-constructed symbol of Bermudian unity was making its appearance — the hard reality of the real state of racial affairs revealed in the most recent Royal Gazette/Research Innovationspoll.

This clearly shows that any thought of a racially united Bermuda is entirely misplaced at this time — the ideal of unity in this racially diverse community has not yet fully arrived.

For instance, only two per cent of the white voter population supports the current Progressive Labour Party Government. If this figure was based on political or philosophical differences, then perhaps it could be more easily understood.

But clearly this is not the case, for the racial divide shows itself throughout the poll results and has done so on a consistent basis over the years.

Now, as some readers may recall, recently I wrote about the non-racial attitudes of my young daughter. And I suspect the colour-blind way she views the world is true of many in her generation.I HAVE<$> chosen not to argue, at least not in any strong or determined way, with her concerning the lack of a strong racial component in her make-up — accepting that the future belongs to her and if that is a non-racial future, then so be it.But I wonder if in the end it will all come to nought, if my daughter's generation comes to find (as I continue to believe) that the greatest threat to non-white peoples in this world remains the existence of racism.

I once posed in this column the question: "What is it that I, as a black Bermudian, have in common with my fellow white Bermudian?" I continue to ask that question despite the fact that I have had — on balance — fairly good relationships with white Bermudians (and white people generally).

But the question of race relations must go beyond any such personal relationships. For it is not on the basis of one-on-one friendships or business relationships that this question can be approached or judged.

Perhaps it is not being discussed openly but the ongoing controversy surrounding the proposed site for the building of the new hospital on part of the Botanical Gardens — and the perception that this is largely a white issue or concern — plays into my thesis.

Here we may, in fact, be experiencing the impact of that 600-pound gorilla I spoke of earlier. But I, for one, reject some of the glib racial theories advanced to explain the seeming lack of passion on the part of the black community in some eyes when it comes to saving the Botanical Gardens (or, more correctly, that part of the gardens currently earmarked for the construction of a new hospital).

Black Bermudians are just as concerned as any other ethnic group in Bermuda over the increasing loss of open space in this country (although some may ask where all this newly-found passion was when Bermuda's open spaces were being subjected to outrageous and ongoing overdevelopment by private concerns over the last decade or so?)

For many black Bermudians, I believe it boils down to a question of pragmatism — we need to build a new hospital. Certainly if you have had to use the services of the existing hospital on any regular basis, you may be inclined to think in those terms.

This is not to say that black people use the hospital more than white people, for if there is one area of our lives where we are all on an equal plain, it is medical care.

Still there must be some explanation why there seems to be such intense white-led protests against using any part of the Botanical Gardens for the building of a new hospital other than the fact the objectors are concerned with saving open space.

Interestingly, in a recent column in the Bermuda Sun, columnist Tom Vesey went out of his way to deny his opposition to the use of the Botanical Gardens for the building of a new hospital was in any way race-based. However, he could not explain why opposition to the hospital plan has not attracted large numbers of black Bermudians.

Allow me to speculate for a moment at this juncture — and that's exactly what I'm doing, speculating not drawing any hard-and-fast conclusions. But the fact is that since the PLP came to power in 1998, there has been a growing feeling within the white community that they are the victims of a form of reverse racism by this Government.

More than a bit ironic in my opinion since this Government, despite the views of a few of its members, could be said to have bent over backwards to show that it is not being racial in its policies.BUT nevertheless the Government's decision to use part of the Botanical Gardens for the hospital project perhaps represented the last straw on the part of some white Bermudians who have come to see themselves as the victims of a black government in the "New" Bermuda.It also cannot be forgotten that Paget Parish is, in many ways, the white heartland in Bermuda. For many years this parish was the only one which retained an overall white majority, especially in Paget East.

There may be a feeling that Government is launching a deliberate assault against this parish's history by deciding to carve off part of the Botanical Gardens for a new hospital.

Interestingly, too, similar controversy surrounds the proposed development of what's being touted as a low-cost housing project at the Loughlands estate, again located in Paget Parish (although the prices supposedly being asked rule out anyone on a low income actually being able to afford the housing proposed for that site).

Well, one of these days Bermuda will arrive at the point where it is considered that it will be in everyone's interests — especially the country's interests — to expel both the elephant and the gorilla from our common home.

But, regrettably, it is quite clear that we have yet to arrive at that point.