mileage out of renaming Cup Match Day.

"It makes a mockery of a significant day. Nobody will recognise it because they will be hanging out and enjoying themselves. It's still going to be known as Cup Match. A rose by any other name is still a rose.'' "If the Government feels so strongly about a day for Emancipation why not declare the first day of August as Emancipation Day? If not then it's not that important so then why are we doing it? "They are just trying to get political mileage -- people are not happy about this potential change.'' PLP backbencher El James and former Cup Match cricketer said: "We are embracing the tradition beginning in 1902 with the first Cup Match holiday - we just want to Bermudianise it.

"When I first played in Cup Match I wasn't aware of rich historical reasons behind it. It's our responsibility to maintain this part of our heritage.

"If you interviewed school kids they would not know the history of Cup Match.

I don't see why we are objecting to having one day which is uniquely Bermudian.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said his Government had the "testicular fortitude'' to tackle the issue.

He said: "I wonder how anyone can be opposed to anything that counteracts the effects of racism.

"We are hearing signals of dismay from the other side that we are trying to erase the signs and signals of the past.

"We are trying to celebrate something more than two days of cricket. We endorse the fact that people in 1834 thought the institution of slavery was just as abhorrent as is today.

Dr. Brown attacked what he called the Afrophobia of the UBP, accusing the party of running away from the race issue.

He said: "The other side don't mention anything. You tell yourself it didn't happen but it did happen.

Government backbencher Delaey Robinson said: "How can it have taken 160 years for the greatest day of freedom in this country to be marked? Why has it taken so long? "It's extraordinary. It's perfectly obvious in a majority black country that you should have a day marked for Emancipation.

"Since emancipation we have had government by the minority ethnic group.

"The abolition of slavery was forced down their throats -- it didn't come willingly. All those years the minority ethnic group paraded themselves as the majority.

"On the eve of the new Millennium we are still talking about this issue? It's inane. Let's for God's sake grow up and get on with it.'' And Mr. Robinson hit back at the UBP's knocking of Government's links with the Caribbean islands.

He said: "The vast majority come from West Indies -- why shouldn't we have cultural ties with them?'' He attacked tourism adverts under the previous government which he said only depicted blacks as waiters and barmen.

He said the way he had been taught history had failed to give proper weight to the importance of black people in Bermuda.

He continued: "It began and finished with Sir George Somers landing and then it was the history of the mother land -- all that 1066 stuff.

"Of course they (the UBP) don't want this change. They were part and parcel of the group that oppressed us. Bermuda Day doesn't really celebrate us -- it was a sort of compromise.'' Mr. Robinson, who is a member of the National Trust, said many blacks failed to realise the huge contribution their forefathers had made to architecture of the Island.

He said: "Most people don't realise it was blacks who put that architecture in place. They don't realise the slaves who were imported from the West Indies were imported for their skills. The master craftsmen were us.

"It's not enough to have the pomp and circumstance in the square in St.

George's -- I think it's actually bigger than that.'' Fellow PLP MP Dale Butler said Liberia had a holiday for black pioneers who resettled after being freed from slavery and the Jews marked the loss of six million lives during the Holocaust.

He said the slaves had suffered their own Holocaust with the loss of 20 million lives in the Middle Passage.

"We ask for reasons why there are 20 million lives lost. We have the responsibility to reflect on why we have Cup Match. We lost 20 million lives.

"They took people from their homes, forcefully took them into another country and denied them freedom. This isn't political window dressing -- how can you talk about that when 20 million people lost their lives? "It's an opportunity to pause and reflect that this event took place. Sir George Somers blew off course -- you could say he was a poor navigator.

"But my ancestors are more important than that. It's a moral issue to ensure that what took place will never be forgotten.

"Whites sometimes find it difficult to accept the word emancipation. They think we are going to ask for retribution. To hold them accountable.

"But we're not asking for reparations or retributions -- we are just talking about recognition.'' Mr. Butler said Cup Match had been started in 1902 to mark emancipation but blacks ran political risks if they had named it so at that stage.

And Mr. Butler praised last Friday's Royal Gazette editorial which had said that it was: "sensible to give both Somers Day and Emancipation Day attention, particularly in the light of the ignorance which still exists among Bermudians -- particularly the youth, about the origins of Cup Match.'' Mr. Butler reminded the House about the hardship endured by slaves selected for the journey to Bermuda.

He said: "They were branded with hot irons and endured a journey that might take six weeks or with an incompetent captain might last six months.

"If anyone attempted rebellion they were whipped with cat o' nine tails. We have responsibility to our ancestors -- with recognition they are free at last.'' Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb lamented the lack of recognition for black Bermudians across the Island -- citing the English connection with parishes and other symbols that was found all over.

She called for some name changes as the PLP moved to recognise the 20 million people who suffered through slavery.

Speaking during the debate over the changing of the naming of day one of Cup Match to mark emancipation, she said the effect still lived on.

"Slavery was abolished in 1834, we are on the eve of the Millennium defending why we are recognising that day,'' she said.

"There should be some name changes around here as well, we need to recognise the significant role black people have played in this country,'' she said.

"Name any institution that was named after a black person...I am sick and tired of having to defend why we have to do things recognising our people. I make no apologies for the effort this Government makes in recognising the past.'' Cup Match debate Earlier, Opposition MP Kim Young hit out at the PLP for changing the date of the public holiday celebrating the Queen's Birthday to bring it in line with the UK Government.

She said it was a 360 degree turnaround for a party that in the past, until Dame Lois Browne-Evans accepted her honour, had been derisive about honours.

Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said the wording of the bill would create confusion, and asked why the words Cup Match could not be inserted in the bill.

Ms Webb queried why there was no cries over the naming of the second day of Cup Match Somers Day, whilst calling the first day Emancipation Day created a fuss.

She said slavery was linked directly to the economy of the country, adding that Bermuda was moving towards independence "whenever it comes''.

The Hamilton East MP called for a minute's silence before Cup Match begins to reflect on the real reason for the holiday.

And she said the country was still not psychologically free and "had a long way to go''.

"I dread to think what would have happened if the UK Government hadn't imposed emancipation.

"It shouldn't divide it should bring people together, we want the real message of Cup Match not to be forgotten and never forget that our history was based upon one of the worst atrocities mankind has perpetrated.'' John Barritt tabled his amendment to have the words "Cup Match'' holiday inserted alongside Somers Day and Emancipation Day, but it was rejected on a 17 to 12 vote.

Tourism Minister David Allen said the event recognised both branches of society, the slaves and the original settlers.

Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell said he believed the public could be short changed by eliminating any reference to Cup Match.

"What difficulty does it creating an umbrella over the two days?'' he asked.

Allan Marshall asked what day the emancipation events would be taking place on.

And Delaey Robinson MP said he was sure that people would not lose sight that Cup Match was a celebration of the two days.

Dr. Ewart Brown: `I wonder how anybody can be opposed to anything that counteracts the effects of racism?' El James: `We are embracing the tradition beginning in 1902 with the first Cup Match holiday -- we just want to Bermudianise it.' Pamela Gordon: `If the Government feels so strongly ...why not declare the first day of August as Emancipation Day?' Patricia Gordon-Pamplin: `The wording of the bill will create confusion. Why can't the words Cup Match be inserted in the bill?'