AN e-mail urging people to write to Government House and the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office to demand that Bermuda's Independence should only be achieved through a referendum has been widely circulated over the past week.

We were unable to determine the origin of the message, but it is understood that it has been sent to thousands of Bermuda e-mail addresses.

The e-mail expresses no viewpoint in favour of or against Independence for the island. However, the letter attached, which the sender urges people to send to Governor Sir John Vereker with whatever changes they see fit, argues for a referendum victory as opposed to a General Election victory as a necessary mandate for cutting links with Britain.

Opposition Leader Dr. Grant Gibbons said he supported the idea of voters writing to Government House to give their view on what mechanism should be used in deciding whether to move to Independence.

We also forwarded the e-mail to Premier Alex Scott, but he was unavailable to comment.

The letter reads: "We are extremely concerned that the present Bermuda Government intendsto bring Independence without proper procedures or an unequivocal expression of the will of an overwhelming majority of people.

"We the undersigned, all Bermudians, wish to ensure that there is an entrenched procedure before there is any change to Bermuda's constitution or constitutional status.

"The British Government has often said that a major constitutional change should require a constitutional conference. Currently, the present Government is talking about a general election as a sufficient legal mandate for Independence."

"We strongly believe that if the current Government wishes to bring Independence, a referendum, similar to the one in Bermuda in 1995, should take place."

Premier Scott has in recent weeks encouraged a debate on Independence. The position of the ruling Progressive Labour Party has long been that a General Election should be a sufficient mandate for Independence.

We asked a Foreign & Commonwealth Office spokesperson in London what the FCO's requirement would be for Bermuda to attain Independence.

"If any of the Overseas Territories wants Independence from the UK, we would encourage that," she said. "If they want to maintain links with Britain, then we would support that too.

"Our whole policy was set out in our White Paper in 1999. We have a modern relationship with the Overseas Territories. It is based on mutual rights and responsibilities. The aim is to raise the standard of government for all Overseas Territories citizens."

When asked whether the FCO considered a General Election victory sufficient proof that a majority of Bermudians wanted Independence, the spokesperson was unable to give an answer.

The 1999 White Paper states that Britain would back moves to Independence "when Independence is the clear and constitutionally expressed wish of the people".

Dr. Gibbons said: "Going back to late last year, the Governor was actively seeking comment from the public and political parties as to what would be the appropriate way to affect consitutional change ? and Independence would be the ultimate constitutional change.

"I see nothing wrong in people writing to Government House to give their opinion on a clear process for that ultimate change. Britain is going to be a key decision-maker in this process."

Dr. Gibbons added that the United Bermuda Party strongly supported a referendum as the means to allow voters to express their preference on Independence.

The e-mail points out the stringent requirements in certain countries for constitutional amendments to take place.

It states: "Canada requires approval from both houses of parliament and two-thirds of the provinces containing at least half the population. Japan requires approval of a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament, then majority support in a referendum. The US requires two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress, then approval by three-quarters of the states."