Bermuda could become a leader among the UK's remaining Dependent Territories in a joint bid to win a better deal from Britain, according to a new pressure group.

The news came from the recently-formed Friends of Montserrat Coalition, set up in response to worries over Britain's treatment of the volcano-stricken Caribbean island.

And Coalition spokesman Rolfe Commissiong said that Bermuda had a moral obligation to accept refugees from Montserrat if necessary.

He added: "If there is a demonstrated need which has been presented to us, we have no other recourse than to accept -- within our limits -- persons from Montserrat.'' And he said new permanent agency -- the Dependent Territories Constitutional Forum -- was planned, in order to lobby Great Britain in the hope of improving the lot of those who hold UK passports with the British Dependent Territories Citizen qualification.

Mr. Commissiong was speaking just before a petition demanding better "social, economic and diplomatic support'' for the people of Montserrat was handed in to Governor Thorold Masefield at Government House.

The petition also asks for assurances that a special committee set up by Britain's new Labour Government to review relationships between the country and its Dependent Territories will promote "direct communications'' between the UK and the remnants of the Empire.

Mr. Commissiong said: "Bermuda can play a lead role in this process as a leader among the Dependent Territories.'' He added: "We don't want to demonstrate any Bermudian arrogance, but we are the most advanced Dependent Territory in the Pan-Caribbean area.

"And we intend to attract like-minded bodies from other Dependent Territories.'' Mr. Commissiong said that the treatment of Montserratians had been "the catalyst'' for the new group -- but that the idea grew into a broader front to fight for all the remaining Dependent Territories.

He explained: "Our chief reason for getting involved in this was strictly humanitarian.'' But he added: "Montserrat is almost becoming symbolic of the remaining Dependent Territories.'' Mr. Commissiong said an oil tanker which ran aground off Bermuda could have wiped out the Island's economy if there had been a major oil slick.

"If the British have not shown enough care and consideration for Montserrat, who is to say what they would do for us,'' he asked.

The Coalition is made up of an alliance of the Bermuda Industrial Union, the Bermuda Public Services Association the West Indian Association, 100 Black Men of Bermuda and the Million Man March Local Organising Committee (Bermuda).

The petition was signed only by the heads of the organisations, not the members, plus Mr. Commissiong, organiser of the Coalition.

But Mr. Commissiong said the organisations involved represented 7-10,000 Bermudians.

And he added: "The heads of the organisations have consulted with their executives and we have signed on board. If the membership down the road is unhappy with this, they have recourse through the ballot box.'' Mr. Commissiong stressed that the group -- although it contains Progressive Labour Party members among its leaders -- was non-political and hoped to attract support from across the political and social spectrum.

He said: "We hold no brief either for Independence or for closer ties with Britain and the European Community.'' After accepting the petition, Mr. Masefield said it would be forwarded to the UK Foreign Office for consideration.

SUPPORT FOR MONTSERRAT -- Governor Thorold Masefield (right) after accepting a petition from the newly-formed Friends of Montserrat Coalition, which calls for a better deal for residents on the volcano-devastated Caribbean island and that changes in the pipeline ther UK Dependent Territories should not be implemented before opinions in the areas affected are considered.

Representatives of the coalition are (from left) BPSA president Leleath Bailey, West Indian Association leader Shurnett Caines and Coalition spokesman Rolfe Commissiong.