meeting on Thursday to decide whether the union should take part in the referendum on Independence planned for this summer.

BIU president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons MP told The Royal Gazette yesterday he personally supported the referendum boycott called for by the Progressive Labour Party. But he said he did not want to pre-empt what the members might decide.

"The membership is the union - not just this one person,'' he said.

"It's my view that most of the members are pretty much attuned to what's going on.'' The meeting is set for 8 p.m. at BIU headquarters.

Like the PLP, the union favoured Independence, Mr. Simmons said. "What we're doing is approaching our members in order to arrive at a policy statement regarding the referendum.

"It's a question of coming together and making a decision regarding support or non support,'' he said.