Opposition leader Wayne Furbert wants to let the voters decide the big issues of the day via referendums.

He said citizen?s initiatives have a lot of public support and would stop politicians pushing through unpopular schemes.

Mr. Furbert said: ?If we are going to hold politicians accountable, if we are going to deal with perceived corruption in the community, if we are going to stop certain legislative bills going through that are not acceptable to the people then we have to have a way of making it happen.?

A petition with a substantial percentage of voters would be needed to spark a referendum.

?If you have a large amount of people signing something, say 20-25 percent, then a referendum would be forced to happen ? either to stop something or have something passed.

?We have to have a way of putting more power in the voters? hands but it can?t be for a frivolous thing.?

Currently he said voters felt helpless as they only heard from the politicians at election times.

?Voters should have some sense of power within their own reach. Bermuda is small enough to allow people to participate in democracy.

?It?s something I strongly support. If we win power I will encourage my colleagues to debate something likes this if we become Government.?

A prime example of Government ignoring voters wishes was the brush off given to the 51 percent of voters who signed a petition demanding a referendum over independence, said Mr. Furbert.

?With a voters? bill of rights it would make this happen. It happens in Switzerland and in the States.?

Other issues might include a national lottery, MPs? pay, human rights and GPS in taxis suggested Mr. Furbert.

It wouldn?t end representative democracy argued Mr. Furbert as there was nothing to say that voters would want to use referendums that much.

?We might not have a referendum for ten years.?

He said technological options could be explored to make voting easier.