Bermudians want "a respite'' from Independence talk, says Premier the Hon.

David Saul.

Right now, "they just don't want to hear about it,'' he said.

Dr. Saul was responding to comments on Monday by Opposition Leader Mr.

Frederick Wade. Speaking to a Labour Day audience at Bernard Park, Mr. Wade said that despite the 74 percent `no' vote in the August 16 Independence referendum, a majority of the electorate either did not vote, or voted `yes' to Independence.

"There is a solid foundation for us when we are ready,'' Mr. Wade said. "And the majority of Bermudians, given the proper circumstances, would support Independence at the appropriate time.'' The 74 percent `no' vote in the referendum was based on a turn-out of 58.8 percent.

When examined in terms of percentages of eligible voters, about 43 percent of the electorate voted `no,' while 15 percent voted `yes,' and 41 percent did not vote.

Based on those numbers, about 56 percent of the electorate either voted `yes', or did not vote.

To get a mandate for Independence, the Independence Referendum Act 1995 stated that 40 percent of the electorate had to vote `yes'. In fact, only 15 percent of the electorate voted `yes', while the 40 percent mark was exceeded by the `no' vote.

However the numbers are looked at, "as far as I am personally concerned -- and I will be discussing this in depth with my Cabinet and caucus colleagues -- the people of Bermuda just wish for a respite from all the discussions and toing and froing on Independence for the next 12 months,'' Dr. Saul said.

"They just don't want to hear about it.'' Instead, Bermudians were interested in fighting drugs and crime, restructuring the education system, and upward mobility, he said. "It was a formal referendum,'' he said. "They gave a resounding no and they just want to leave the thing alone for the time being.'' Asked why the issue should be left alone "for 12 months,'' Dr. Saul said he arbitrarily chose one year and those words had no special significance.