The United Bermuda Party refused to participate on the Bermuda Independence Commission (BIC) yesterday, saying the Premier was wasting time and money on the issue which could be better spent elsewhere.

The move will also leave the UBP free to agree or disagree with the BIC?s findings, UBP Leader Grant Gibbons said yesterday. ?We will feel able to comment on whatever comes out. ?If we participate, we will be bound to some degree by what they come up with ... This leaves us as more of an honest broker.?

Premier Alex Scott had invited the UBP to name a representative to serve on the BIC, a group meant to be representative of the Bermudian community which has pledged to be a ?data-gathering? force on independence, according to its chair Bishop Vernon Lambe.

At a Press conference yesterday, Dr. Gibbons said: ?We can understand why the Premier would want to create a distraction from the performance of his Government at this point. ?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.?

Independence is not a priority for Bermudians at this time, he said. ?We believe that time, resources and attention need to be directed towards solving some of the serious social issues facing our community: affordable housing, needs of seniors, economic empowerment, education, tourism, to name just a few. Quite frankly, we cannot in good conscience participate in a process that we believe is an inappropriate use of people?s time and resources.?

The UBP prepared a Green paper on Independence just nine years ago, Deputy Leader Wayne Furbert added ? and in a referendum Bermudians ?rejected loudly? Independence.

Recent polls, he added, show nothing has changed in the ensuing decade. Calling the move selfish and self-interested, Mr. Furbert wondered whose will the Progressive Labour Party was trying to impose on Bermuda. Dr. Gibbons also said the PLP itself is split in the issue, which may be part of the drive behind Government?s desire for a General Election.

?I don?t think senior members of the PLP trust their own members,? he said.

A referendum would allow members to vote against Independence, he said, whereas in a General Election members may feel bound by loyalty for the party to vote PLP.

?We are concerned about the direction this Government is taking,? Mr. Furbert said, adding the UBP will continue to push for a referendum and ?stand strong? with the people of Bermuda. ?We will be very vociferous,? Dr. Gibbons said. ?It will be interesting to see if this is a balanced commission ? or if the report is already written.?