Craig Cannonier’s defence of white voting behaviour helps explain why racial disparities continue to exist in Bermuda, according to historian and activist Dr Eva Hodgson.Meanwhile, Parliamentary Registrar Randy Scott has described Kim Swan’s analysis of voting behaviour as a “slap in the face” of the Boundaries Commission and its work on ensuring electoral equity, as debate on race and politics continues.Mr Cannonier has said that the white community votes overwhelmingly for one political party because the Progressive Labour Party does not make whites feel welcome.But Dr Hodgson argues that his view is tantamount to excusing white racism and perpetuating racial disparities.“Mr. Cannonier illustrates one of the reasons that the disparities continue between our black and white Communities.“Too many Blacks who have experienced the racism imposed by the white Community and described in such detail by Mr. Cannonier’ s maiden speech then find it in their personal interest to defend and support the racist behaviour of that same white Community,” said Dr Hodgson.“The tragedy is that those Blacks then join Whites in holding the Black Community responsible for the same racist behaviour which they themselves endured.”She continued: “He, like the White Community which he now defends and supports, no doubt would contend that all of the problems which now inflict the black Community are because we are inherently inferior and not because an economically powerful white community has deliberately done all that it could to ensure that the black Community was deliberately demeaned and exploited both economically and psychologically since 1834.“How can we ever achieve parity of the black and white communities when so many Blacks, like Mr. Cannonier, defend and support the white Community that has imposed and maintains these disparities?”Yesterday, Mr Cannonier said: “I am in politics to improve the lives of all Bermudians, black, white and in between. For Dr. Hodgson to say that I’m some sort of apologist for white racist behaviour is disappointing.”He added that the ruling PLP “have not narrowed any gaps unless of course you’re a friend of the government but they have definitely presided over the largest decline in jobs, opportunity and paycheques in our modern history.”He said: “My goal as a political leader is to grow the economy so that we are once again producing jobs for all, shoring up social services so that they meet people’s needs, paying down the outrageous PLP debt and creating a just environment that grows opportunity.“This is how we will begin to narrow gaps and unite Bermudians. Bermuda needs a government that works better for Bermudians, and that is what my colleagues and I will deliver.”UBP MP Kim Swan, who kicked off the debate on race and politics by decrying racial bloc voting, found himself on the wrong side of the Parliamentary Registrar, Randy Scott.Mr Swan’s observation that only a handful of constituencies decide elections as a result of racial bloc voting was “unfortunate” said Mr Scott.“It is a slap in the face of the work of the two previous Boundaries Commissions in achieving as far as practicable equal number of persons qualified to be registered electors,” said Mr Scott.Mr Scott noted that the Constitution requires the Boundary Commission to ignore the racial distribution of electors within Bermuda, among other requirements for setting electoral boundaries.“Let’s not make the possible the enemy of the impossible,” said Mr Scott.“I think rather than criticising the work of the Boundaries Commission we should be celebrating just how marginal these constituencies have become over the years as a consequence of the work of the Commissions.“What makes or breaks the candidates’ ability to be elected to any of the thirty six constituencies is the work they must put in as far canvassing, regardless of the racial component of the constituency.”Yesterday, Mr Swan responded by saying that he had no issue with Mr Scott’s comments and agreed that the Boundaries Commission did a good job within the remit of the Constitution. He said racial bloc voting was not a result of the work of the Boundaries Commission.“For the record, whilst the United Bermuda Party did express concerns about the electoral system we accepted the report of the boundaries commissioners and continue to do so,” said Mr Swan.“As a result of these comments by the Parliamentary Registrar, I will speak to the Parliamentary Registrar and the Governor as well.”But he added that Mr Scott had simply reinforced his call for electoral reform.“Clearly the racial polarisation that has repeatedly taken place is firmly entrenched and many look for that to change,” Mr Swan said.“The small amount of marginal seats compared to safe seats in Bermuda remain and the guaranteed safe seats look likely to continue to occur unless changes and reforms are considered.“The Parliamentary Registrar is aware of our concerns to improve our democracy.”He noted that the first past the post system meant that in 2003 and 2007 less than 54 percent of the voters returned more than 63 percent of the seats to Parliament and the Opposition with 48 percent and 47 percent of the popular vote only got 37 percent of the seats.He called for fixed term elections and “reform to absentee balloting procedures”.