Premier Ewart Brown was last night quizzed on race, Independence and a string of other subjects in a lively questions and answers session with young people.

The hour-long debate was organised at Greg's Steakhouse in the City of Hamilton through the Premier's link-up with on-line community Facebook, which he joined in an attempt to encourage youths to get involved in politics. About 80 people attended.

Dr. Brown repeated his desire to break links with the UK but claimed — as he previously stated in the Caribbean earlier this week — that timing was crucial to the calling of a referendum.

"I believe that every living thing ought to seek independence," said Dr. Brown. "When the country is ready for Independence, we will know. At the moment we are not.

"Some people say: 'Why don't you hold a referendum now?' Well duh. Why would we call a referendum now when the odds are we would lose it. This is called politics."

Asked why he was keen on Independence when it would mean students would be unable to get subsidised tuition fees from the UK, Dr. Brown said he was hoping to bring in a policy where Government would pay fees for people going abroad to study.

The Premier was asked whether people of his generation viewed race in a different way to young people.

He replied: "There's always generational differences on every issue."

Asked by a black member of the crowd whether Bermuda was only developing the black race, Dr. Brown responded: "You think your white friends will be upset when I talk like this? We need to take a step forward. We can't deny the past. Two wrongs do not make a right."

He added that the Big Conversation, in which blacks and whites have been encouraged to talk about race in a series of meetings organised by the Premier's consultant Rolfe Commissong, has been a major step in the right direction.

He faced criticism over Government's long-line fishing programme, with one audience member suggesting it was risking the lives of albatrosses and turtles. The young man claimed Government had lied to the public about the dangers it caused.

Dr. Brown said he would look into the situation, and the man offered him his email address so that he could reply in person. The Premier, visibly annoyed, replied: "No, I will give you mine."