OPPOSITION Leader Dr. Grant Gibbons has announced that the United Bermuda Party (UBP) will play no part in the Bermuda Independence Commission (BIC) launched by Premier Alex Scott yesterday.

Dr. Gibbons, who said the UBP had declined an invitation to put forward a representative to sit on the BIC, accused the Premier of using the Commission as a distraction from the island's more pressing needs.

Mr. Scott announced that the 13-member BIC would be headed by Bishop Vernon Lambe.

"We can understand why the Premier would want to create a distraction given the problems and scandals that the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) have been facing," Dr. Gibbons said.

"We can see how this commission helps the Premier in his quest to become the first Prime Minister, but we don't see where it's really going to help the rest of the people in this country.

"The Premier keeps suggesting that people want more information on Independence, and that may be true ? but the people also want more information on Berkeley, the Bermuda Housing Corporation and a host of other issues that the PLP government has failed to come clean about."

Dr. Gibbons said he believed resources should be used on matters such as affordable housing, the needs of seniors, economic empowerment, education, tourism, rather than discussion of the Independence issue.

"Quite frankly, we cannot in good conscience participate in a process that we believe is an inappropriate use of the people's time and resources," Dr. Gibbons added.

"This commission represents yet another attempt by the PLP to distract attention from other, more pressing issues facing our people."

UBP Deputy Leader Wayne Furbert said the Government was "putting the cart before the horse" by trying to stimulate a debate on Independence before they had defined the decision-making process.

"We believe that the only way to insure that the will of the people is given voice is through a referendum," Mr. Furbert said. "We believe that the PLP is pushing for a General Election on this issue, because they don't trust the voters to make the right decision."