Bermuda Day was condemned in the House of Assembly.

Shadow Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen said Sir John's remarks were out of keeping with the spirit of the day.

Mr. Allen touched on Sir John's claim that anti-Independence Bermudians were "quietly resisting the whole concept of Bermudianisation''.

It was inappropriate to pillory a single group, Mr. Allen told MPs during the motion to adjourn debate.

"It strikes at the fabric of that day.'' Mr. Allen said he had noticed Sir John had been in a "petulant mood'' of late.

And he accused the Premier of damaging the Independence issue through the self-serving way he had handled it.

This was exemplified by his refusal to accede to Progressive Labour Party leader Mr. Frederick Wade's request for a joint select committee on Independence.

"His chickens are now coming home to roost,'' said Mr. Allen.

Mr. Allen also told of his concern at hearing Government Ministers declare during a recent Press conference that breaking from Britain would not change anything in Bermuda.

This was the very reason why the PLP objected to becoming independent under a United Bermuda Party Government.

Later, Sir John struck out at the PLP, saying the party had never anticipated the UBP would launch an Independence initiative.

"When it happened, they sought some form of sabotage,'' he said, referring to the PLP's Independence referendum boycott campaign.

Sir John also argued against a joint select committee.

He said Mr. Wade had made it quite clear the PLP would only support a general election as the method to decide the Independence issue.