Brown's " Consultant on Race'Rolfe Commissiong:verbally abusive

Premier Brown's race advisor verbally abused me – BDA man

Dueane Dill
Rolfe Commissiong

Race relations consultant Rolfe Commissiong has refused to comment on claims he told a member of Bermuda Democratic Alliance he "sounded like a house nigger".

Dueane Dill alleges that Mr. Commissiong used the insult during a "tirade" at the Olympic Club gym in Hamilton on February 20 — and he says it wasn't the first time.

The 47-year-old said he has previously let such slurs go from Mr. Commissiong but felt he could no longer do that, having joined a party which opposes racial divisiveness.

Mr. Dill, in a guest column on page four of today's newspaper, writes: "I felt I could not sit idly by, particularly when this very same person has been appointed by the Government, and is being paid with taxpayer money, to head up race relations.

"I mean, the very man charged with promoting unity between all the Island's races called me a 'house nigger'. Do we see a problem here?"

Mr. Commissiong would not speak directly to The Royal Gazette about the allegation but sent this response in an e-mail: "I have no comment... those comments were private between him and me."

Mr. Dill, who works in insurance management, told this newspaper: "I have known Rolfe for years and we have had numerous conversations. They tend to start as conversations and end up being an argument.

"The point where it turns into an argument is the point where he plays the race card. Not everything comes down to black and white."

Father-of-three Mr. Dill claimed Mr. Commissiong began his rant by suggesting most black members of the BDA were trying to push away their "blackness".

"I respectfully disagreed, but his tirade continued," Mr. Dill writes in his column.

"I was informed that the Alliance would never win the black vote, at which point I requested that the conversation end."

He said Mr. Commissiong accused him of forgetting his people, to which he responded: "My people are Bermudians. Period." He claimed Mr. Commissiong then told him: "You sound like a house nigger."

The phrase "house nigger" is typically used to refer to a black person who is seen to have disowned their racial identity by trying to please white people.

The Human Rights Commission declared the term "insulting" but not racist after Senator David Burch used it to describe a caller on his radio show. The Broadcasting Commission said it was "reprehensible".

Mr. Dill, of St. George's, said: "He [Mr. Commissiong] has referred to me as an Uncle Tom before.

"In the past, I just sort of walked away but I think if people allow this to happen and don't do anything about it, it will continue to happen.

"It got me annoyed initially but then on top of that he's getting paid $170,000 [over an 18-month period] to unite the races. Is that money well spent? I would say it isn't."

BDA leader Craig Cannonier said Mr. Commissiong ought to be disciplined for his remarks. "Bermuda is tired," said Mr. Cannonier. "We are tired of the same old rhetoric that has been going on and has been allowed to pervade this country for years now.

"I'm shocked that in 2010 we find people in Bermuda referring to each other in such derogatory terms. It's crazy, especially if it's a race relations consultant saying it."

Mr. Dill received two telephone calls from Mr. Commissiong after this newspaper contacted the $104,000-a-year Government consultant.

Mr. Dill said during the first conversation, Mr. Commissiong stood by his comments, but in the second, he denied likening Mr. Dill to a house nigger.

An Olympic club member, who asked not to be identified, said: "I was here at the gym. He called him a house nigger. I found it kind of uneasy to call another person that."

Olympic owner Scott Stallard said no one complained about the incident but a gym member mentioned to him that he overheard the remark. Another gym regular said of Mr. Commissiong: "He is always having run-ins with people at this gym. He is not well-liked."

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 Why did the PLP's race relations head call me a 'House Nigger'?

OPINION By Dueane S. Dill

First of all, I will declare my interest. I am a fully paid and supportive member of the Island's newest political party, The Bermuda Democratic Alliance. I subscribe to and support the core values of the Alliance, one of which states that we believe in "society that is inclusive, embraces diversity and equal opportunity and protects everyone's human rights".

On Saturday, February 20, the date of our first ever Alliance conference, I decided that I would go to the gym, as is my custom, to get some training in before the events of the evening commenced. As I walked in, I was verbally set upon by Mr. Rolfe Commissiong, the current Government's race relations advisor.

We have a history of heated discussions regarding all manner of social issues, politics notwithstanding. However, since joining the BDA, these discussions have become even more heated. This time what he said was unacceptable to any right-thinking Bermudian.

Mr. Commissiong began his tirade by stating that myself and a few others aside, most black members of the Alliance have spent their entire lives trying to push away their "blackness". I respectfully disagreed, but his tirade continued. I was informed that the Alliance would never win the black vote, at which point I requested that the conversation end as I was tired of the race card being played. I have no problem having a conversation, and each person is entitled to his or her opinion.

However, if the race card is played, then rational conversation cannot be had. Particularly if that card is played with open malice.

When I was accused of "forgetting my people", I responded: "My people are Bermudians. Period!"

This was met with: "You are living in a dream world!" My response? "Maybe I am. In my dream world, I see unification of all Bermudians."

Mr. Commissiong's retort? "You sound like a house nigger."

Bear in mind this is being said loudly on the gym floor, for all to hear. Now, this is not the first time Mr. Commissiong has referred to me in this manner, and normally I would just walk away shaking my head.

However, since being involved with the Alliance, which does not tolerate this sort of backwards divisiveness – I felt I could not sit idly by, particularly when this very same person has been appointed by the Government, and is being paid with taxpayer money, to head up race relations. I mean, the very man charged with promoting unity between all the Island's races called me a "house nigger" - do we see a problem here?

It is time for the PLP's brand of hateful and divisive politics to end.

It is time to stand up for what is right.

It is time to stand up for what is decent.

It is time to stand up for what is respectful and inclusive.

There are 52 cards in a deck, and right now all of them appear to be race cards. Surely that deck must be empty by now? Surely we as the Bermudian people should refuse to deal another deck? Surely it is time for a new deck. It is time for a better way.