In today's Royal Gazette, UBP Senator Michael Fahy criticised the PLP's call for both political parties to jointly condemn a hateful racist rant made by a young white Bermudian.

If Fahy and his UBP colleagues were truly interested in building a united Bermuda and not just scoring political points, this was their opportunity to join with the PLP and stand together as one Bermuda, united against racism. Fahy argued that a call for a joint condemnation has "nothing to do with advancing the cause of racial well-being in Bermuda." We couldn't disagree more. What could be more powerful than PLP members and UBP members standing united as one Bermuda in condemnation of what is clearly racist and disgusting? That would've brought our community together. Unfortunately, instead of accepting the PLP olive branch and coming together in condemnation against hate and racism, the UBP demurred.

The UBP let 10 days go by and remained silent on the issue until now, when they decided to use our call for a united front against racism to score political points with an opinion piece by Michael Fahy that conveniently forgets our recent history. What Mr. Fahy fails to acknowledge is that the most damning critiques against his party do not come from the PLP, but, from formerly loyal UBP members who couldn't take it anymore and resigned in disgust.

Mr. Fahy needs be reminded that it wasn't the PLP that said "I was female, I was black and I came with an independent spirit. That was three strikes, for them" - it was former UBP chairwoman Gwyneth Rawlins. Rawlins was a loyal supporter who, for years, worked her way up the party ranks and served four years as their party chair. Yet, after years of commitment to the party, she resigned because of racism.

Mr. Fahy also needs be reminded that it wasn't the PLP that said "They use fear, distrust and envy to try and divide us. And, if they can't scare you, they try and lie and if they can't lie, they try and get you to feel jealous" - it was former UBP MP Jamahl Simmons. Just a few years ago, Simmons was a loyal UBP member and one of their most effective attack dogs. Like Rawlins, he also resigned in disgust because of racism.

Since the resignations of Simmons and Rawlins just a few years ago, the UBP has lost two more of their strong black leaders, Wayne Furbert and Darius Tucker. Wayne Furbert was the leader of their party. He committed his life to advancing the UBP's cause, and, yet, he resigned in disgust.

The truth is, it's not the PLP's indictment of the UBP that has defined their party - it's their own actions that drive so many of their own politicians to quit in disgust after the party failed to change.

When we called on the UBP to join us in condemnation of overt racism, we didn't think it would be controversial to bring the UBP and the PLP together to condemn hate. Instead of accepting our olive branch and standing united as one Bermuda against racism, the UBP first ignored our offer and then, weeks later, responded with an angry opinion piece in The Royal Gazette.

The window of opportunity is not yet closed. The UBP still has an opportunity to join us and send a powerful signal that, despite our differences, we can come together and condemn hate. It's time for the UBP to accept our olive branch and stand with us, united against hate.