Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert yesterday called on Government to hold an immediate referendum on Independence ? and revealed that if one was held he would vote against Bermuda going it alone.

Mr. Furbert called a press conference at United Bermuda Party (UBP) headquarters in Hamilton to press for a speedy resolution to the issue.

?We believe the Government must bring an end to the current process now,? he said. ?It should announce a date for a referendum, so that the people can decide the issue.

?Bermuda has too much on its plate right now to be distracted by an issue that has everything to do with the Government?s own ambition and nothing to do with the people?s needs. We want the referendum held as soon as possible.?

His comments came as Bermudians for Referendum sent an open letter to the Premier demanding a reason for the Government?s ?extraordinary delay? in committing to a referendum.

The letter, which appears as an advertisement on Page 34 of today?s asks: ?Why does the Government consistently avoid suggesting that a referendum be held before an election?

?Please respond without delay to the question being presented to us almost daily: ?What has happened to our referendum???

Mr. Furbert and UBP Deputy Leader Michael Dunkley both said yesterday that they would vote against Independence if a referendum was called.

Mr. Furbert admitted he had changed his view since the last referendum in 1995 ? largely because of the British Government?s decision to allow Bermudians to live and work anywhere within the European Union.

?Times have changed,? he said, adding that he did not believe he had the right to take that privilege away from ?our children?.

?I will not sacrifice our children?s future just because of my own personal beliefs in the past.?

Mr. Dunkley said the UBP did not have a party line on Independence as it believed its members should be able to take an individual stance on the issue.

Both politicians said that recent poll results ? including one carried out by the Opposition - showed that support for independence was low. ?The most recent poll indicated 71 percent against independence, with just 21 percent in favour,? said Mr. Furbert.

?Any politician worth his or her salt knows already that Independence at this time is simply a non-starter with the people.?

He said the Government would be better served tackling issues that really mattered to people, such as housing, drugs, crime, health and education.

Bermudians for Referendum say in their letter, signed by Michael G. Marsh and Pat Ferguson, that it has been nearly a year since they presented the Government with almost 15,000 signatures on pro-referendum petitions. A second batch of petitions was presented in February.

?The total number of validated petition signatures gathered in Bermuda amounted to hundreds more than the votes the PLP Government received in winning the last General Election,? says the letter.

?In percentage terms, the number of petition signatures gathered amounted to 15,523 or over 52 percent of the valid votes cast in the last election. The will of the people has been expressed in no uncertain terms.?

Asked for comment on Mr. Furbert?s remarks, Premier Alex Scott said: ?Independence is not an event. It?s a process. We do not put a clock on it or necessarily use a calendar.?

Every opportunity would be used to inform the public about the topic, he said, adding that a meeting with Foreign and Commonwealth Office under-secretary of state Lord Triesman last year resulted in a recommended combination of both a general election and referendum.

?That?s left to be decided. I don?t think we will be rushing the public to a decision because Mr. Furbert wants to politicise it,? he said.