The Bermuda Independence Commission called for "full participation" from the community yesterday as its investigation into the pros and cons of Independence picked up speed.

A local thirst for information; a younger, college-educated voting demographic; the state of Bermuda's Constitution; and a need to investigate other models of Independence other than the constitutional monarchy formed the reasons behind the need for the Bermuda Independence Commission (BIC), chairman Vernon Lambe Sr. said yesterday.

Public meetings, school visits and educational initiatives, invited submissions from local stakeholder organisations, a media information campaign, visits to foreign jurisdictions, and talks with those who have gone from colonisation to Independence are all in the works for the next six months.

"Previous investigations have revealed that the UK has been adamant that associated statehood is not an option for Bermuda," Rev. Lambe said.

"Bermuda must maintain the status quo or go to Independence is the conclusion of the whole matter.

"The final decision in both these options is ultimately in your hands. The BIC invites you, the public, to join with us, the Commissioners, to thoroughly investigate these two options, or any others."

A report will be submitted to Cabinet within a maximum timeframe of six months, he said. Asked whether or not the report will include any recommendations, Rev. Lambe said it would be difficult to investigate such an issue without having some recommendations.

"But we are not telling people what to do. We will relate the options."

As for the question of a referendum or a General Election to decide the issue, Rev. Lambe did not offer an opinion. "Our mandate is clear ? it is not to determine what course will be taken. Our work is to provide possible courses which can be taken. The decision is, finally, to be made by the people and the Government of the day."

A Press conference was held yesterday to introduce the public to the BIC and solicit "full participation" in the information-gathering process, Rev. Lambe said.

He expressed the BIC's "deepest appreciation and debt of gratitude" to the United Bermuda Party and former UBP Government for previous investigative work on Independence spanning 1977 to 1995.

That work, which can currently be accessed on the Government website, will be used as a starting point for the BIC, he said. "We hope the UBP continues that seminal and historic work for which we are eternally grateful."

Asked if he regretted not having a member of the UBP on the BIC, Rev. Lambe drew chuckles with his reply: while the BIC does not have an official UBP MP on board, he said, "We have UBPs on our team".

Rev. Lambe also thanked Government, both for appointing the BIC and for permitting "the investigation to go beyond the remit and control of the Government ... and the respective political parties, and to enjoy a wider, less insular and partisan remit in this process.

"We thank the Governor and the Government for making available ... resources to assist us if and when required."

Five reasons justified the current need for the BIC, he said.

The first was an Omnibus survey from June of 2004 which "clearly indicates a strong interest for more information on the subject of Independence. We will provide that information and quench that thirst for knowledge."

The Omnibus survey, conducted by Total Marketing, is a syndicated quarterly survey of Bermuda residents. Those subscribing to it can submit private questions which cannot be released to the public but can be used as the individual submitting them sees fit, Total Marketing head Steve Marklew said yesterday. As does not subscribe to the survey, this newspaper was therefore unsuccessful in efforts to see it yesterday.

The second reason behind the need for the BIC is the change in local demographics ? particularly regarding "at least two generations of college graduates who now comprise our population," Rev. Lambe said.

"These graduates have modern views about how they want their country constituted which may not coincide with the views of their parents." The lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18 has also played a part in the shift in the political climate, Rev. Lambe said.

Fourthly, he continued, the Bermuda Constitution ? "an act not of our local Legislature but of the Westminster Parliament of the UK Government" ? is "so advanced" that it is considered an enviable model by many other British Overseas Territories for a transition to Independence, Rev. Lambe said. "Indeed, our Constitution has been variously described by some British officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a 'pre-Independence' Constitution.

"Any further amendment which bears upon the Governor's reserved powers and the UK's international obligations and responsibilities will amount to an Independence Constitution."

Finally, he said, previous investigations into Independence have considered only the model of the constitutional monarchy.

"There are other models ? indigenous monarchies, republics (non-executive and executive) within the Commonwealth (such as Trinidad), and Crown Dependencies (such as the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey)."

To explore these options, the BIC will host public meetings in various venues around the Island "for the purpose of receiving submissions, both orally and written, pros and cons, on any topic related to Independence," Rev. Lambe said.

The BIC will also visit educational institutions to engage Bermuda's young people in the dialogue. "We will be inviting our schools and the College to participate in an essay competition and a school debate on topics relevant to Independence."

Submissions from organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Bermuda International Business Association, the unions and religious institutions, and so on will be specifically invited, he said. Discussions with diplomatic and constitutional experts will be held as well as visits to foreign diplomatic jurisdictions and consulates. Representatives from countries that have gone Independent will be invited so the BIC can learn from their failures and successes. A website, which is currently under construction, will be available shortly, Rev. Lambe added. The BIC also proposed to run articles in the print media under the heading "You Should Know", bringing relevant information to the public that was not previously available.

The BIC can be contacted at PO Box HM 3393, Hamilton HM PX, Bermuda.

"Every country has the inalienable right to self-determination," Rev. Lambe said. "That right has been affirmed to us by the UK Government.

"It's time to exercise it and put to rest the question on Independence, pros and cons."

Knowledge is power, he added. "Consider this acronym for the BIC ? Being Informed Comprehensively."

As for public reassurance, Rev. Lambe said the BIC functioned autonomously ? not as an arm of Government ? in their investigation of "perhaps the most serious decision this nation will ever have to make".

"I respectfully request you judge us on the basis of our activities ... You will be able to judge us on our own merit."