Bermuda is a country still rife with racial bitterness and largely ignorant of the options available to it on the road to self-determination, according to a recently released United Nations report.

However, the 18-page document acknowledges that the key to a prosperous future for Bermuda is national reconciliation of the race issue ? ?irrespective? of the Island?s future political status.

The report, released on July 6, was garnered from two separate visits by the United Nations Decolonisation Committee at the behest of the Bermuda Independence Commission ? the latest of which was in March.

While documenting a broad cross-section of the Committee?s activities while on the Island, the report also details profound disagreement between the UN and the United Kingdom over Bermuda?s current status ? with Governor Sir John Vereker rejecting the UN?s classification of Bermuda as a ?non-self-governing? territory.

During a luncheon meeting with Sir John, the report reveals, the Governor argued that many of the powers he commands under the Constitution are regularly delegated to the Bermuda Government or are not ?routinely exercised? ? meaning Bermuda is more autonomous than the UN?s classification system implies.

However, the report holds true to the organisation?s position that even such ?reserved? powers are ?not consistent with fully self-governing political status as defined by international principles?.

The UK?s decision, the report continues, to instruct the Bermuda Government that they must move to full sovereignty or maintain the status quo does not square with UN resolutions which legitimise a wider range of alternatives, such as ?free association or integration?.

Free association and integration are both status options recognised under international law which allow a move away from dependency without the assumption of full sovereignty, while ensuring strong ties and cooperation with other jurisdictions of a nation?s choice.

Territories such as the Confederated States of Micronesia and The Republic of the Marshall Islands both have free association arrangements with the United States which guarantee collaboration and assistance on a wide-range of issues from trade to law enforcement.

?It is quite apparent that there is insufficient knowledge and awareness among the people of Bermuda and its political leadership of the role of international law in their process of political and constitutional development,? the report concludes.

?That information deficit extended not only to the political options available to the people, but also to the important part that the United Nations system could play in supporting the self-determination and subsequent decolonisation of the territory.?

According to Premier Alex Scott, who has made much of the need for Bermudians to explore the issue in greater detail, these criticisms are to be met by the BIC?s report which was due to be completed by the end of last month.

Attempts to contact BIC Chairman Bishop Vernon Lambe to check on the report?s progress were unsuccessful last night.