Former Premier Sir John Swan declared his support for a referendum to decide the question of Independence yesterday ? and yes, he has signed the Bermudians for Referendum petition.

However Sir John would not provide his personal views on Independence at this stage, saying he was willing to wait until the Bermuda Independence Commission has completed its fact-finding exercise. "Now is not the time," he added.

Sir John has stood on both sides of the question. In 1972 he famously declared: "With the Americans to feed us and the British to defend us, why do we need Independence?"

However as Premier in 1995 he championed the controversial cause ? and when Bermudians spectacularly rejected Independence in 1995, after a referendum boycotted by the PLP and dampened by a hurricane just days before, he resigned as Premier.

Yesterday, he was keeping a lid on his feelings on the issue. "I don't want my feelings to be confused with the BIC's. I understand they are not making a recommendation, so I'm willing to wait (until the BIC's information-gathering process is complete)."

As for the BIC itself: "As long as it does the job it says it's supposed to, in the manner it has said it will, then I have no problem with them."

The BIC has declared it is solely a fact-finding body, which will research the question of sovereignty from all angles ? including the view of the Bermudian people ? and present a report on their findings to Government. The report is expected sometime in June.

Yesterday Sir John made clear just how strongly he feels about a referendum as opposed to a General Election to decide the question, saying the Bermudians for Referendum petition is the very first petition he has ever signed.

The outcome of a General Election, he explained, can be reversed in time. However, Independence is an irreversible decision: once that step is taken, the country can never go back, he said, before adding: "So it should be a single decision that Bermudians have the chance to make."

The process of a referendum will also allow for a debate to take place leading up to the actual vote which will be focused entirely on Independence, he said. "It helps define the process and clearly gives the rationale for the final decision."

It is entirely possible to hold a referendum deciding whether Bermudians want Independence or not, and then hold a General Election to decide which party will take the country forward from there, Sir John said.

However Independence itself "is not a party issue. It is a national issue. Independence is a single issue process and should not be confused with party politics."

The Government of the day can declare a stand and be in favour of sovereignty, he said.

But Sir John added: "They have to recognise that there are others, that they as the Government represent, who may not be in favour ? even their own supporters ? and they have to give them a chance to have their say. There's just many unknowns."

Sir John is not helping the Bermudians for Referendum with organisation behind the scenes, however he revealed that he signed their petition "because I really believe a referendum is the only logical way," adding he had to put his "moral resolve" behind that belief.