Opposition MP Ms Renee Webb yesterday defended the holding of exclusive events such as the upcoming "Black Masters'' golf tournament saying whites held such events all the time.

"While whites may get offended because an event or something is called `black', whites often don't have to call (a similar event or thing) white because it is white,'' she said.

She added that in any event whites were not excluded by law from the October 26-30 golf classic which is expected to involve more than 100 black businessmen.

Sponsored by the Department of Tourism, the event will be filmed by Black Entertainment Television. Participants will also be given a "Taste of Bermuda'' by PLP MP Mr. Nelson Bascome's local group 100 Black Men of Bermuda.

"If a white person wants to take part certainly no one will tell them they can't,'' Ms Webb said.

Tourism communications manager Ms Pat Phillips-Bassett said she had not discussed the issue of allowing white participants with the event organiser, however, "I wouldn't imagine it would be a problem.'' She added she viewed the event simply as a "major marketing tool'' for Bermuda.

Ms Webb said it was also a self-esteem building exercise for the black community, which she reminded, was years ago excluded by law from many sports events put on by local clubs.

Ms Webb urged whites who were concerned about racism issues to "speak out''.

"The whole racism issue has been a black monologue,'' she said. "If whites are serious about wanting the system changed they should get involved -- go public.'' They should also make more effort towards integration, she said, noting blacks had "integrated'' Warwick Academy and institutions such as social and sports clubs, while whites had failed to join traditionally black schools such as Berkeley or social clubs such as Warwick Workman's.

Ms Webb added the social side of racism was not so much the problem in Bermuda. Institutionalised racism, where "whites are always in an advantageous position'' was the real problem, she proclaimed.

Ms Webb was responding to an editorial by the Editor of The Royal Gazette , Mr. David L. White, concerning perceived double standards in the racism issue.

He noted white people had recently written in with complaints about events that were promoted for blacks and were openly segregated against whites such as the upcoming "Black Masters'' golf tournament.

Such events, which also include black scholarships and achievement awards, were seen by whites as prolonging the racial divisions in Bermuda, he said.

Blacks felt they had been excluded from the main stream for so long that such events were needed to recognise black achievement and boost self esteem, he noted. But whites argued it seemed it was acceptable to be exclusively black but not acceptable to be exclusively white.