MP Zane DeSilva has claimed racism was behind the actions of angry protestors who jeered him and thumped his car after he tabled the Municipalities Reform Act yesterday.

In a statement released this evening, the Government Minister said the situtation could have turned violent had his wife Joanne not been able to restrain his son Zane Jr., from getting out of the car.

"On Friday July 23, my family and I experienced yet another episode of the racism that this white segment of the Bermudian population continues to deny exists."

He continued: "What do you think the black people of this Country think when they witness such hatred and nastiness? They chanted 'coward' at me - why? Because I didn’t address them?

"Anyone who witnessed the abuse that our Premier and his wife, along with my wife and I, had to endure last year on the Cabinet grounds, would certainly agree that no Government Minister let alone a human being should be subjected to such abuse.

"In no way was I going to be subjected to that experience again. Had my wife not been able to restrain my son we could have an all out bloodbath yesterday."