latest in a series of articles on Independence before the August 15 referendum, The Royal Gazette today examines Independence and race.

Throughout the lengthy Independence debate, the race issue has never been far beneath the surface.

Why, some have questioned, are so many black MPs in favour of Independence, while white MPs are overwhelmingly opposed? And why, when Bermuda has been essentially self-governing for decades, would a split from the British Crown cause reduced confidence and instability? The view that racism is behind opposition to Bermudian Independence has been voiced in many ways by many people.

A Bermuda Telephone Company worker boldly stated the case in January of 1994.

Mr. Barclay Carmichael, who the Premier beckoned into his Cabinet Building office while explaining his Independence initiative to a reporter, said that fear was the key.

"There are a lot of whites in this Country who feel that if we are independent, some coloured boy is going to run to Trimingham Hill and ransack their houses,'' Mr. Carmichael said.

And rape their wives, he might as well have added.

His wording was less emotive, but Progressive Labour Party central committee member Mr. Rolfe Commissiong recently voiced a similar view.

Once one got behind the talk about lost international business, the reason whites opposed Bermudian Independence was that "they are psychologically fearful of living in a Bermuda that is dominated politically and culturally by a black majority,'' Mr. Commissiong said.

And lawyer Mr. Philip Perinchief, who has bucked his PLP colleagues by calling for a `yes' vote in the August 15 referendum, said race and class were at the basis of the Independence debate.

Whites had "cultural affinity'' with the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, viewing the UK as "their saviours in the event the natives get restless,'' he said.

And they generally did not want Independence "because ... they have always been independent in the sense that they have shaped this community politically, culturally, economically, and philosophically.'' Those blacks who opposed Independence "feel comfortable with how their masters have run the Country and are essentially lazy, contented, well-fed slaves,'' he said.

Most recently, the Premier himself suggested racism was behind opposition to Independence.

Stereotypes, like the view that blacks had too many children and could not handle positions of responsibility, were fuelling the anti-Independence movement, the Hon. Sir John Swan said.

How valid are these comments? Nobody knows for sure what motivates others, but evidence suggests there is more to the Independence question than race.

First, while white MPs generally oppose Independence, not all black MPs are in favour. Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge and Government backbencher Dr. David Dyer are opposed.

In Bermuda generally, black opposition to Independence is even stronger.

The latest public opinion poll, published in today's The Royal Gazette , shows that a majority of blacks -- 57 percent -- say they are opposed to Independence, while 24 percent are in favour and 19 percent are undecided.

Opposition among whites is much stronger, with 87 percent opposed, five percent in favour, and eight percent undecided.

And Independence talk has sparked business fears in countries where race is not an issue.

In Quebec, for example, which is predominantly white, Montreal lost its status as the economic capital of Canada after the pro-Independence Parti Quebecois won the provincial government. Many banks and companies moved their head offices to Toronto, despite the fact Quebec sovereignty is still not a reality.

Opponents of Independence firmly reject the idea that they are motivated by either stereotypes or by fear.

"I'm not afraid,'' said Mrs. Joyce Hall of Bermudians for Continued Stability. "I have a preference, and my preference is to continue as we are going.'' Mr. Sanders Frith-Brown, a white who has been outspoken about race in Bermuda, said the only positive aspect to Independence is for blacks who "feel the knee of repression of colonialism. After Independence, his perception of that repression would be removed,'' Mr. Frith-Brown said.

Whites, on the other hand, "aren't afraid of Independence as a matter of control,'' he said. "They see clearly that things will change after Independence, but it will be for the worse.'' Mr. Trevor Moniz MP, an outspoken opponent of Independence who is of Portuguese descent, said, "I myself have no particular ties to the UK,'' and fears about corruption and instability in a post-Independence Bermuda have nothing to do with racism.

"The truth of the matter is that when many small countries go independent, there's a tremendous concentration of political power,'' Mr. Moniz said.

"Look at Singapore.

"There's nothing racial about it. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'' What concerned Mr. Moniz about the debate was that the Premier and others were suggesting that Independence would help bridge the gap between the races in Bermuda. "It won't,'' he said. "Any 10-year-old knows that.''