Campaigning for a referendum as the best means for deciding how Bermuda should decide on whether it should move to Independence is premature, Premier Alex Scott said yesterday.

"I think editorial writers, the Opposition Leader and the Bermuda Sun editorial writers have embarked on a campaign before they've embarked on a discussion," the Premier said following a swearing in at Government House.

"They are campaigning on the notion of a referendum ? premature right now. We're talking about discussing the merits of a referendum, the merits of a General Election, the merits of Independence itself. Why bother? What is it that recommends us continuing as a colony? These are the discussions, not let's decide on how we are going to do it. We may not want to do it."

The Premier pointed out that the focus should be on making sure the populace is fully informed on Independence, and related issues, not on swaying public opinion.

He added that Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons should be looking into "the merits of going to Independence, if we should choose to do so, by a General Election".

Mr. Scott's call for an open, national discussion on Independence at his party's Founder's Day luncheon on February 29, was initially met with an overall positive reaction.

But Dr. Gibbons later called for the Country to first agree on how Bermuda should go about the process of constitutional change and the transition to Independence before embarking on an open discussion.

And the Opposition Leader said he was concerned that the Progressive Labour Party still held that the General Election is the best way to gauge the will of the people, and has been pushing his party's position for a referendum.

Mr. Scott has already said that his party is willing to be guided by the people on the issue and that based on public feedback, the PLP may well decide to abandon its long held position ? a stance not adopted by the United Bermuda Party.

He said it was important to discuss the "basics of a colony, the basics of sovereignty so that Bermudians ? all Bermudians ? can appreciate what the subject is all about.

"When you poll Bermudians now, you poll folks who have limited awareness of the subject matter. Not that I'm against the poll but you find they are reacting to the word Independence and not the state of sovereignty."

He said the discussion has not differed much from that in 1995 when the Country held a referendum on Independence.

"But what we're going to do differently is, as Government and as Government leader, we are going to put information into the community.

"Not arguing one way or another, but basic information so that once the public has that we can go to another level of complexity. And once we have that we can raise the bar even higher. So that when the day comes (to decide) by elections or whatever means, they will at least not be fearful of something they don't understand, they will be reacting on something that they have now taken an informed position on."

He agreed that the issue was hugely politicised in 1995.

"And that's what I'm trying to de-emphasise ? the politics of it. That's why I'm saying I will listen to Grant Gibbons' arguments on a referendum. But it's interesting that , the Bermuda Sun, Grant Gibbons haven't said 'let's look at the arguments in favour of a General Election'.

"They've gone right to their campaign and they are doing an injury to the subject matter, I believe. I'm not saying don't talk about a referendum, but there are so many other aspects of this whole issue beyond just the methodology of going forward."

The PLP, in Opposition, urged supporters to boycott the 1995 referendum.

"That was a different time, in a different place. And we have learnt from that and while I support the stance taken by the then-Opposition Leader we are now saying let there be a broad open debate without us first gravitating to our respective well known and well held positions."

He said that he was sure that some Independence advocates felt he was not going far enough in pursuing the Independence agenda, and that he should have set a timetable.

"Anybody who is for it has to realise one fundamental thing ? to achieve Independence you have to take a significant majority with you. And setting a date may be a date you will fall in love with and others will hate."

And to other criticism that he had not set a threshold for what a "significant majority" should be, he said such a decision would also be premature.

"Let's not talk about getting the trophy at the end of the season. We're still in training. When the public understands what we're talking about they will then be able to guide us or in actual fact give us a clear indication of how they feel about a significant majority. But right now let's make sure that our fellow Bermudians understand what we're talking about."