It's about changing the balance of wealth and power on the Island, a public debate heard last night.

The Hon. Jerome Dill, whose new Human Affairs Ministry called the meeting with the Human Rights Commission, listened as speakers piled their expectations on him.

Official speakers were headmaster and writer Mr. Dale Butler, teacher and Portuguese Bermudian Organisation head Ms Anna Faria, lawyer Mr. Rod Attride-Stirling, top accountant Mr. Scott Hunter and HRC chairman Canon James Francis.

More than 75 people -- roughly half white and half black -- showed up for the Cathedral Hall event. It was designed to advise Government on creating a race relations division of the Ministry -- maybe as a part of the HRC.

Mr. Butler said Mr. Dill was taking a "massive risk'' at the start of his political career and deserved support. He contrasted him with the Premier, who he said had neglected the issue until the end of his career.

He said black people had been subjected to oppressive laws and a culture where comic-book heroes were white and black people were portrayed as an underclass.

Government had to change its attitude to black people. "The race relations division has to deal with the Premier and his team,'' he said.

But the PLP was also guilty. It had to stop bringing "stories'' to Parliament about individual cases and encourage action instead. Radical change in the school curriculum was needed to improve understanding between people and recognise the contribution of all races to history.

Ms Faria stressed Portuguese people were experiencing discrimination and needed to have their culture and language valued.

Forum on racism Mr. Attride-Stirling said Government had finally taken steps in the right direction, but the private sector was lagging behind. He said racism had its roots in the home, like drug abuse and violence.

It was also like alcoholism: "We have to accept the disease before we can expect to be cured.'' Mr. Attride-Stirling said the Island was a racial paradise compared to some countries. But he added: "We're a divided society and we're not going to fall into each other's arms. We need to make positive steps to mix more socially.'' He asked whether public schools were up to par, and if they were, whether white parents were prepared to send their kids to them.

He defended Mr. Dill as able to "speak the language'' of management, whatever his pigmentation.

Mr. Hunter said the Island's goal should be equality of opportunity for all.

He added: "I think many of us would rather not discuss the situation, with the result that our situation is exacerbated.'' Lecturer and Independence campaigner Mr. Walton Brown said he feared the new division would concentrate on individual prejudice. But there was a historical system of oppression to be tackled, based on power relations and economics.

Mr. Stirling agreed, as did veteran racism campaigner Dr. Eva Hodgson, who said: "Black and white Bermudians are cordial to each other from nine to five all the time, and when we were originally segregated we were even nicer to each other. Being nice to each other doesn't address the issue of institutionalised racism.'' Lawyer Ms Clare Hatcher said she had heard black people say they thought about being black all the time, whereas white people could often not recall an occasion when they were aware of their skin colour.

White people, heterosexual men in particular, tended to have their identities reinforced by society. She called for the race relations division to have the power to "go into'' organisations and investigate patterns of racism.

Another speaker called for racism to be dealt with as firmly as drug offences.

NEW CHAIRMAN OF UBP PTL New chairman of the United Bermuda Party is businessman Mr. Gary Pitman. Mr.

Pitman, senior executive for Chevron Bermuda, is a former deputy chairman.

He was elected to replace Dr. James King at the party's annual general meeting last night. Mr. Elroy Ratteray was re-elected as one of the deputy chairmen.

The four other new deputies are Mr. Bryan Adams; Mrs. Lynda Milligan-Whyte; former Police Chief Inspector Dennis Ramsey; and Mrs. Debbie Graham. Treasurer is Mr. Tom Davis, and secretary Mr. Ronald Viera.

Outgoing executive officer Mr. Joe Gibbons said the slate of new officers were unanimously elected. All the party's branches were represented at the meeting at the UBP's Chancery Lane headquarters in Hamilton. He added there was a congratulatory mood following the party's October 5 election triumph.

Mr. Gibbons described Mr. Pitman as "very active at the executive and campaign'' level of the party. "He has also worked very extensively with his Warwick branch. He has done a lot behind the scenes.'' Mr. Gibbons said a replacement for himself would be elected by the new executive.

CHRISTMAS MAIL DEADLIN UPS Hurry, if you want your Christmas mail to arrive on time.

Today is the deadline for sending parcels to America, and letters to Europe, the Azores and Portugal. And tomorrow is the one for letters to Jamaica and Bahamas.

Parcels and letters to Great Britain, meanwhile, have to be sent by Monday.

And letters for America must be posted by Wednesday.

Those sending local mail have a little more time, according to the Postmaster General. They have until 12 noon on Saturday, December 18.