Independence position papers claiming the session was pointless.

At one point the Upper House discussion had to be stopped because a quorum had not been reached.

Both Opposition Senate leader Milton Scott and Sen. Neletha Butterfield were out of the room, along with UBP senators Gary Pitman and Government Senate leader the Hon. Gerald Simons.

That left Senate president the Hon. Albert Jackson, independent senators Dr.

Norma Astwood and Alf Oughton as well as Government senators Yvette Swan and Larry Scott.

A quorum requires at least six members of the Senate to be present. The meeting was able to continue after Sen. Pitman returned to the chamber. The delay lasted less than one minute.

After the session, Sen. Milton Scott said his party felt there was no need to enter the discussion because the result was a foregone conclusion.

"It was a very lacklustre debate,'' he said. "The United Bermuda Party as far as we were concerned did not even enunciate a programme in support of their own compendium.

"It is their debate. At one point they were not even able to keep a quorum.

As far as we are concerned the referendum is dead. It is basically a moot issue. The people have already indicated that they are not interested.'' Sen. Scott said PLP supporters and some UBP supporters have already said they will not show up to vote on August 15.

"The position the PLP has taken enjoys a broad base of support in the community and this transcends party lines and even racial lines,'' he continued. "It is a position that is gaining support on almost a daily basis.'' Sen. Scott said party leader Mr. Frederick Wade had already represented the PLP position well in the House of Assembly.