BERMUDA Independence Commission chairman Bishop Vernon Lambe yesterday criticised Opposition Leader Dr. Grant Gibbons' opinion that the United Nations decolonisation committee has no role to play in Bermuda's Independence debate.

At a press conference yesterday, Bishop Lambe said it was time to dispel "strategically announced misinformation" and then spelled out the BIC's view that the imminent visit of the UN group to Bermuda would be useful.

But Dr. Gibbons, whose United Bermuda Party declined the invitation of a seat on the BIC, spelled out his doubts over the UN committee's visit.

He said the committee was, by definition, set up to help colonies move towards Independence. And expressed concerns about the effect their visit could have on the island's reputation overseas.

Bishop Lambe yesterday denied that the BIC was a front for the Government to advocate Independence, saying the Commission's role was to educate people to make an informed decision. The 13-member commission was set up by the Government three months ago to seek information and options on Independence and then to present a report to the Cabinet.

BIC also announced times and venues for its first four public meetings, the first of which will take place a week today at Warwick Workmen's Club.

The public will be invited to present their views on Independence in writing or orally. Spoken submissions will be limited to five minutes.

Bishop Lambe said yesterday: "At this point it is necessary to dispel some myths and certain strategically announced misinformation.

"With all due respect, and contrary to the position held by the Honourable Opposition Leader Dr. Grant Gibbons in a Royal Gazette article on March 14, it is the conviction of this Commission that the SC-24 UN Decolonisation Committee does have a role to play in Bermuda's education towards self-determination.

"We would be remiss not to take advantage of their internationally recognised expertise.

"The UN Special Committee's work programme for non self-governing territories is a step-by-step guide in the process, possibilities and protocol toward determining readiness for the transition to self-governance. It is the intention of this Commission to explore the possibilities of implementing this work programme on its education mandate."

Bishop Lambe added that the UN committee's two visits here will be fully funded by the UN. And some of the SC-24 members will attend three of BIC's public meetings at the end of this month.

When the committee's visit was announced, Dr. Gibbons said: "As far as the role of the UN in Bermuda's self-determination goes, I can't see where it has any role at all. This is a matter to be settled by the people of Bermuda and the United Kingdom government.

"We're a sophisticated jurisdiction that has already gone through this process as recently as ten years ago without the assistance of the UN."

Yesterday Dr. Gibbons said he had "no wish to get into the ring" with Bishop Lambe, but expressed concerns about the role of the UN committee.

"By definition, the UN Decolonisation Committee has a mandate to take colonies towards Independence," Dr. Gibbons said. "I'm concerned about the issue of balance.

"I have not seen invitations going out to groups that may have a different approach."

Dr. Gibbons also cited concerns about the message that that UN committee's visit would send to the world.

"I'm concerned that there will be a perception that Bermuda somehow needs the UN Decolonisation Committee to come in and sort out issues with respect towards going Independent," Dr. Gibbons said.

"We worry about our international reputation, which is currently one of common sense and stability, particularly in relation to our international business sector.

"The idea of a UN committee coming to Bermuda may send out a wrong impression of where we are."

He saw no reason why the UN group could not have sent the required information to the BIC without need for a visit to the island.

Asked whether the BIC would be expressing a view on whether a referendum was the right way to go, Bishop Lambe said: "Whether we go independent by a a referendum, General Election or some other way, that is not our remit. We are information gatherers and disseminators."

Another Commission member, hotelier Michael Winfield, appealed for a reasoned debate. And he added that if someone made a "misstatement" based on bias, the BIC was obliged to expose it.

"There seems to be a lack of open discussion, a lack of people saying 'let's talk about it and then I'll make a decision'," Mr. Winfield said.

"It's extraordinary how emotional a discussion this seems to be. What we would like to see is for people to simply back away from their entrenched positions and say, 'I am open to the facts'."

He added that the Commission needed to talk to representatives of the US, UK and UN, as part of the fact-gathering process.

David Rowntree, one of the BIC members who visited the UN recently, said there was no need for anyone to fear that the SC-24 was trying to push Independence.

"Eleven of them are coming here to answer any questions we may want to pose them," Mr. Rowntree said. "They have overseen many a country going Independent.

"They have a template on ways and means of going Independent. This is a process that may take one year or five years."

l BIC's public meetings will take place at Warwick Workmen's Club on March 24, at St. George's Cricket Club on March 29, at Somerset Cricket Club on March 30 and at Devonshire Recreation Club on March 31. All meetings will run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Everyone is welcome and written and spoken submissions are invited.