The Human Rights Commission appears to approve of racial slurs, Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert said yesterday.

Mr. Furbert was responding to the decision by the HRC on Tuesday to dismiss a complaint about comments made by Sen. David Burch on his radio show.

The HRC said the Sen. Burch?s comments ? apparently referring to a caller to his show as a ?house nigger? ? were not illegal, however ?insulting or distasteful? they might be.

?This ruling by the Human Rights Commission has done nothing to enhance its own image, relevance and effectiveness in the society,? Mr. Furbert said.

?Instead they have sent a clear, unambiguous and strong message that intolerance, hatred and divisiveness ? which in my view is encouraged and bred by racial epithets like ?House Nigger? which are intended and understood to be demeaning and dismissive of black members of this community ? are condoned.

?The Human Rights Commission had an opportunity to make a statement and condemn such language but failed ? on the contrary appear even to approve.?

He said the United Bermuda Party (UBP) was?appalled and disappointed? by the content and tone of the HRC ruling.

?It is hard to believe that this is 2006 Bermuda we are talking about,? he said. ?If describing half of the population as ?house niggers? is not offensive and downright out of place, then I do not know what it is.?

The Opposition Leader also said it was one thing to dismiss the complaint based on deficiencies within the law, however, it was another thing to engage in ?malicious? and ?apparently politically motivated? attacks against the person who brought the complaint against Sen. Burch, Shadow Finance Minister Patricia Gordon Pamplin.

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin is a valued member of the UBP team, he said, but more importantly is a human being that deserves far better treatment from the HRC.

?We believe that this is a very serious issue, which ought to occupy the attention of all our leaders. Therefore, I will be writing the Premier of Bermuda to seek clarification on where he and his Progressive Labour Party Government stand on such issues.

?I want to know if Minister Burch was truly echoing what lurks within the hearts and minds of the Progressive Labour Party Government,? he said. ?I want to know if that is how persons who do not support the governing party are perceived and referred to by the ruling party.?

Mr. Furbert said the time had come for Premier Scott to send a ?clear and resounding message? as to whether racial slurs are encouraged or acceptable within his administration and the community.

Former Premier Sir John Swan also joined the criticism, saying the decision sent the wrong message to young people.

?It says if you say something I don?t agree with, you can make such a repugnant statement and get away with it,? he said. ?The Commission is saying don?t look to us to correct it when someone says something as repugnant as this.

?The fundamental question is what issues have come up (before the Commission) and not been dealt with through benign neglect. Are we going to create a Third World mentality in which people can do things with impunity without any consequences??

Sir John also criticised Premier Alex Scott for appointing Sen. Burch to the Cabinet without demanding he apologise for the statements.

He said when he was Premier, he fired then-Tourism Minister C.V. (Jim) Woolridge for making disparaging remarks about ?little white boys?.

Sir John said the firing showed his Government had a consistent record of rejecting racial remarks of any kind.