The Premier's race relations consultant has accused a Government MP of being "a little slow".

Rolfe Commissiong made the remark in response to comments by MP Ashfield DeVent, who this week criticised the consultant's stance on race as "frightening".

Mr. DeVent said he felt Mr. Commissiong was encouraging young men not to take personal responsibility, by blaming problems on racism.

He accused the race advisor of having "tunnel vision" and urged young blacks to avoid using racism as an excuse for bad behaviour.

Mr. DeVent, MP for Pembroke South East, is considering tabling a Private Members' Bill for a debate on the Island's drug laws. He told The Royal Gazette the move had support from 30 people, half of whom were in favour of legalisation of cannabis.

Mr. Commissiong however, hit back yesterday, saying: "I know the perception of MP DeVent <\!m> besides being 'the invisible MP' <\!m> is that he is a little slow, but this is ridiculous with respect to his response to my comments regarding his push to decriminalise drugs in Bermuda.

>"Bearing in mind that my comments were made approximately three months ago."

On March 31, Mr. Commissiong accused Mr. DeVent of being an "invisible MP" on issues such as racial equality.

Yesterday the race advisor claimed schoolboys in public schools are known to be selling drugs. He added decriminalisation would only "exacerbate" the drop-out rate among young black males, revealed to be 50 percent in last year's Mincy Report.

Mr. Commissiong told this newspaper: "I stand by those comments however, that a renewed push by him (Mr. DeVent) and others on this issue is misguided at best; considering that only recently, highly reliable reports have reached my office that boys, as young as 14-15 years of age at the public high school level are not only smoking cannabis but trafficking in it as well.

"In fact another recently confirmed report indicates that at one of the public middle schools a young boy was discovered this year selling a fake substance (oregano) which he purported to pass off and sell to fellow students as cannabis."

Mr. Commissiong said: "This is the wrong message for persons holding some of the highest offices in the land to be endorsing at this time, and in my view is highly problematic.

"Simply put, it will offer sanction to those whom I have illustrated above, that are the most vulnerable in our society, by sending the wrong message.

"And remember this is a country which has a 50 percent drop-out rate amongst its black males as the Mincy Report indicates. As a consequence we need to raise the bar and not lower it, as Mr. DeVent would suggest.

And I might add that we do not find anywhere comparable statistics with respect to Bermuda's young white male community in terms of the drop-out rate.

"Moreover, with a drop-out rate this high it is clear that the issue is systemic and not one that can be addressed by simplistic Reagan era-style calls for personal responsibility, as Mr. DeVent continues to do.

"It is also clear that race and for example, gender, must be factored into our overall view of this issue when the disparities with regard to outcomes are so great."

He did not want to disclose the schools in question, but said they were "a public high school and a middle school". He was told of the alleged drug dealing by "individuals within the school system".

"I believe anything along these lines, decriminalisation of cannabis and other substances, will give powerful sanction to that behaviour among the young and vulnerable," said Mr. Commissiong.

He said the Mincy Report was due to be discussed in the new House of Assembly session.

"It's only right the issue of drug use as it relates to that core population should be discussed as well," he added.

"However, I don't feel a particular Bill looking for decriminalisation is wise and prudent at this time."

Yesterday Mr. DeVent responded: "I haven't pushed for this decriminalisation. I have asked for, more than anything, a debate on how illegal drugs affect this Island and the formation of gangs."

He added the comments were made at the end of March. "It wasn't three months ago," said Mr. DeVent.

"I certainly don't want to find myself in a back-and-forth battle or dialogue with a Government consultant.

"Is this his personal opinion or is he speaking as a Government consultant, because you don't normally find consultants speaking publically and, particularly, attacking Members of Parliament."

He added: "I do stand by my comments. You can't use racism as an excuse for the types of violent and criminal behaviour that we have seen recently.

"I would hope Mr. Commissiong would use his time as a handsomely-paid consultant to Government to suggest some meaningful solutions to the racism that he seems to be wholly and solely focused on."