Government and the Association for Due Process and the Constitution are almost on the same page on constitutional change and how the Country should move to Independence, according to Association secretary Warren Cabral.

And he says he is convinced that with a full education campaign and a determination by a Commission on Independence that it is sustainable, at least 60 percent of Bermudian voters will agree to go for full nationhood.

Stressing that his views were personal and not necessarily those of the Association, Mr. Cabral said the Government?s emphasis on the involvement of the public and the need to establish clear support of a ?decisive majority? in the House of Assembly meant that Government?s position was not ?that far away from the Association?s submission?.

Government is proposing that the country follow procedures similar to that followed in 2001 to usher in electoral reform.

And it has rejected arguments for a referendum to gauge the will of the people, saying they ?fall short of being persuasive?.

?The Government submission is therefore quite clear about the role of public consultation before a vote in the House. That is to be encouraged and accords with the Association?s position,? said Mr. Cabral.

?The submission of the Association is equally clear that such consultation need not only be by way of referendum.?

The Association?s submission also agrees with the Government?s contention that the process should be similar to that used to reform the electoral system.

?These are all matters advocated by the Association as well. That is to say, wide consultation prior to a report which is submitted to a (super-majority) House vote. The principal difference is that the Association recommends that there be an independent ring-holder in the way of a bipartisan Constitutional Commission with independents holding the balance.?

The Government?s submission does not say specifically what would constitute a ?decisive majority?, but Premier Alex Scott has said that it will be guided by Bermudians.

Mr. Cabral said he had no issue with Government leading discussions on Independence.

?However, what is really at issue is whether the subsequent process is independent and multilateral or wholly controlled by the Government of the day. Obviously, the Association favours an impartial multilateral technical approach.?

On Government?s mandate to take the country to Independence via a General Election, Mr. Cabral said that Government should have at least 60 percent of the vote.

?The last paragraph of the Government submission runs directly contrary to repeated assurances from the British Government.

?They have often said that they will do whatever Bermudians ask them to do.The only question is how large a majority is necessary to convince the Foreign Office that there is widespread support for Independence,? he said.

?A bare majority at an election is not enough. In any civilised country it is at least 60 percent. My personal belief is that with a proper educational campaign and the report of an Independent commission that Independence is sustainable they will get their 60 percent.?

Premier Alex Scott has called for a full national discussion on Independence. He later indicated that while Government still held the position that elections were the best way to gauge popular support for Independence, it was willing to be guided by Bermudians.

?My own view is that I support Independence and believe Premier Scott is quite right to say the time has come,? Mr. Cabral said earlier this week.

?In particular, Bermuda?s commercial needs and culture depart so widely from the UK and EU that I do not see much continuing need for such a close association as being a dependent territory.?