Opposition's credibility on base closures.

The Progressive Labour Party leader accused the Hon. Sir John Swan of "adolescent preening'' over his election win.

On Tuesday the Premier suggested the Opposition was too partisan to play a role in base closure talks.

The public had elected the Government to run their affairs, he said. Yesterday Mr. Wade hit back. The bases issue transcended party politics, he said.

"At this critical juncture in our history, one would have thought the Premier would have been focusing on the `big picture' rather than indulging in this adolescent preening that his party won the election -- even if it was barely.

"The reality is that now, more than at any time, the PLP is viewed as an alternative Government.

"Instead of the myriad efforts made to woo us onto task forces and commissions, certainly the discussion about the future use of the land after the US and UK withdrawal and our future constitutional role is an issue that merits discussion across the board of partisan division.

"It demands it. Now is the time to pay more than lip-service to the ideal of the politics of inclusion -- not exclusion.

"Our whole future is at stake. No one party has a monopoly on intelligence or good sense. So now is the time to make a collective and concerted effort to sit down, discuss and determine to act in the best interest of Bermuda. Our destiny depends on it.'' The Committee for the Independence of Bermuda says it will today respond to the debate over whether the Island should have a general election or a referendum on cutting ties with the UK.

The pressure group will unveil a "third option'', spokesman Mr. Walton Brown said yesterday. It also hoped to reveal information from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.