The United Bermuda Party can still be a catalyst for change but it is shackled by its past, former leader Wayne Furbert told Parliament yesterday as he cut ties with the party.

Mr. Furbert, who resigned as a UBP MP on Monday night to sit as an independent, said Bermuda was pulling itself apart over race and politics.

He added: "Racial discrimination emanating from slavery, colonialism and the worst features of capitalism has driven our people apart. It has become the most dangerous and destructive force in our society today."

He said there could never be peace nor sustained prosperity in Bermuda until these issues had been fully addressed.

"We must break the chains of any remaining vestige of racial discrimination in Bermuda once and for all."

It was up to this generation to change it rather than sweep it under the carpet, said Mr. Furbert.

"I am convinced that the United Bermuda Party can be a catalyst in helping to resolve some of the problems, if it so desires."

But he added: "Despite the party doing some great things when it was Government, it unfortunately has a connection with the past that many Bermudians have not forgotten, hence this is why I was pushing for significant reform."

He said over the past year it had become clear to party colleagues, constituents and other supporters that his frustrations with the pace of change in the UBP, which he said was akin to pedestrianism, had reached their zenith.

"Having carefully considered my position in the face of a decided lack of reform and having sought and obtained other wise counsel over the slow pace of reform in the United Bermuda Party, I have accepted my diminishing influence to accelerate the necessary changes, sufficient enough to restore the party to electability once again as a viable alterative to Government."

Mr. Furbert said he was announcing with regret his decision to quit the party having been in it for 40 years.

Being an independent would allow him to speak more freely on matters which affect constituents and the wider community, said Mr. Furbert, who said he would be vocal on the need for democratic reform.

Mr. Furbert's announcement was greeted with muted foot stamping on the Government benches and silence on the UBP benches although he had been seen chatting amicably with former colleagues throughout the morning.