UNLIKE many of my fellow countrymen, I have no wish to see my country remain a British Overseas Territory. So my reaction to the UK Foreign Affairs Committee's Report on the UK's Overseas Territories, a report that was more than a little critical of Bermuda, can be summed up in two words: "National Independence". I find it ironic that a committee of British politicians can lecture the remains of its Empire on the question of enhanced codified reforms to Bermuda's Constitution yet Britain itself has no written constitution that enshrines similar rights for its citizens.

I can think of one important issue that concerns the British people's future that has not moved toward any form of resolution and that is the question of whether Britons want an even closer link with the European Community. To date successive British governments have refused to put the issue before the British people in the form of a referendum. It seems to me that while British politicians are concerned about political reforms in its Overseas Territories there is unfinished business to deal with in their own country.

In my opinion, far from a real fact-finding mission, the UK Foreign Affairs Committee's Report only looked at the opinions of interest groups that have issues with the current Bermuda Government. Without even reading the full report, I could probably list all of the groups that appeared or submitted written concerns to the Committee.

1. The recommendation to phase out conscription: That almost certainly was influenced by the efforts of the anti-conscription lobby group Bermudians Against the Draft (BAD). If the British were to force this upon Bermuda it will certainly mean the end of the Bermuda Regiment as I am sure most Bermudians know that we will not get enough young Bermudian men to step forward to make up an all-volunteer force, no matter what incentives are put forward. The chief reason for this is not only Bermuda's small population, but also the fact that Bermuda, unlike many countries, has the luxury of having full employment and therefore joining the military is not seen as an economic incentive. Even the introduction of free Bermuda College tuition, before the Government decided to make it free across the board, it did not encourage that many takers from the ranks of the Bermuda Regiment. Now if the Government were to offer free overseas university education for those who, once they completed their degrees, agreed to return to Bermuda to serve in the Bermuda Regiment, there might be many takers. It would be interesting to see if such a scheme would increase the number of volunteers joining the militia. But even so, I still get the impression that many would be content for Bermuda to bring in non-Bermudians to serve in the Bermuda Regiment as long as they can escape service.

2. A review of the voting rights of Long-Term Residents: That would in fact take Bermuda back to the era of the three-year expatriate vote that allowed Commonwealth citizens the right to vote in Bermuda's election after being here on a work permit for three years. The effect of that was that non-Bermudians had veto power over political change in Bermuda, something that the United Bermuda Party Government was happy to live with but which was vigorously opposed by the then PLP Opposition. This unjust political situation endured until its abolition was forced upon the UBP Government in the wake of the 1977 riots and the findings of the subsequent Pitt Commission. Only citizens of a country should have the right to determine their political destiny and who should govern them. It appears that certain elements in the British political establishment have still not accepted the fact that the British Empire is no more, except for its rump, Bermuda being the largest bit.

3. The question of outlawing sexual orientation: discrimination is already an issue the Government has taken up, but it is only the most conspicuous part of a more complex issue. The question of same sex marriage or even the installation of openly gay Bishops in churches are aspects of this issue which are currently causing all manner of ructions in the UK, particularly within the Anglican Church. Is the Foreign Affairs Committee going to insist conservative Bermuda take positions on all aspects of this highly contentious matter?

5. No Government committees sitting in secret: This is a recommendatiion that I will agree with, except if public sittings infringe on the ability of the Government of the day to govern

4. The introduction of Freedom of Information legislation: Again I can agree with the intent of such a law, but the fact is all Governments keep certain information from the public, including the British Government. That is why they have what they call an Official Secrets Act which allows individuals who leak such information to be jailed. I trust the Bermuda Government would have that same right.

5. The investigation of allegations of corruption at the Bermuda Housing Corporation: Well, we all know where this recommendation comes from and when we talk about something with political implications, we know what took place in the run up to the recent election and the attempt to gain political advantage as a result of leaking those missing Police documents on the BHC affair. Even in England, any person caught handling such documents would suffer some type of reprimand. This brings me to the recent comments of the Auditor General who has alleged his arrest for his involvement in this matter was politically motivated. He suggested the leadership of the current Government was in cahoots with the Police because of the trouble he found himself in. But I don't believe it. In fact if there was something like an alliance of convenience between the Government and the Police, it was indeed

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short-lived judging by the number of officers who joined the labour protest held at Parliament recently. And by all appearance this estrangement between police and government is not yet over.

As to the comments of Bermuda's former Governor, who is quoted as saying he did not like the PLP Government, I put those remarks down to a political culture in Britain and other, mostly Western country that holds there must be political corruption somewhere in the governance of Develo-ping Countries because the wrong faces are in control. This is decidedly a different viewpoint about Bermuda than the conclusions the Foreign Affairs Committee came to.

Next time they come acalling and as a supporter of Bermudian National determination, I hope that a British Government will no longer have that legal right. But if it is so, than I suggest that their fact finding should be a little broader, to get a truer picture of the state of my country.