The Bermuda Independence Commission has failed to include a submission made to them on the topic of Independnce by the United Bermuda Party in their final report.

The PLP submission to the BIC is found at Annex 7 of the report. The former UBP Government?s 1995 Green paper and 1979 White Paper are also included in the annex documents - however the UBP?s submission on their current position on Independence, made to the BIC on June 8 of this year, is not to be found anywhere within the report.

Yesterday BIC chairman Bishop Vernon Lambe had not yet returned calls to his cell phone or an e-mail sent on Friday requesting clarification on the report. Commissioner Rolfe Commissiong refused to comment on the issue of why the UBP submission was not included in the annex of the report.

It is understood Commissioners have agreed not to speak publicly about the report for 60 days after its release in order to give Bermudians time to read it thoroughly.

?I was certainly surprised and disappointed to find that the UBP submission was not included in the final document whereas the PLP submission was,? Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons said on Friday.

Dr. Gibbons declined to make any further comment yet, however. The UBP will be holding a press conference this week to discuss its reaction to the report once it has been read in detail.

Dr. Gibbons did however provide the newspaper with the UBP?s submission to the BIC.

The submissions from the Island?s only two political parties differ significantly in content.

The UBP submission offers little information about what Government policy would be in an independent Bermuda under the UBP.

Nor does it state a party position on the topic of Independence.

Instead the UBP submission declares: ?In essence, the United Bermuda Party is not fighting for or against independence; the United Bermuda Party is fighting for the democratic right of the Bermudian people to clearly express themselves on the issue?.

Quoting statements made by Dr. Gibbons in 2004, the submission continues: ?the people themselves must determine Bermuda?s destiny, not the British government, not the United Nations, not Cabinet Ministers and not MPs?. Such an important decision should be made by the voters themselves and not by others, the UBP declares.

The Opposition therefore devotes much of their submission to arguing the merits of holding a referendum on the question of Independence, instead of a General Election.

?The United Bermuda Party further believes we should not begin to debate the substantial issues of independence unless the process has been clearly defined and agreed,? Dr. Gibbons said, adding later: ?The United Bermuda Party believes in and trusts the judgment of the people. The most democratic and least divisive vehicle to insure that the will of the people prevails is a referendum. Only in that way will every voice be heard and every vote count.?

The UBP submission then goes to lengths to provide the BIC with resources and information on other countries who have made the decision on Independence as well as other issues via a referendum, detailing many instances in their submission itself and directing the BIC to where more information can be found.

In their report the BIC stated that it had found ?no instance? in which Independence was decided by a referendum.

The PLP submission states that it wants a decision made on Independence made through a General Election.

In contrast to the UBP submission, the PLP provided plenty of tidbits on what its policies would be in an independent Bermuda ? such as the PLP?s stated intent not to become a full-fledged member of Caricom unless that can be done without subjecting the Island to the Caribbean?s single market set up.

The governing party told the BIC that it would abolish the foreign vote and establish a Code of Ethics for Cabinet Ministers.

The PLP also said they are on record as recognising dual citizenship, and that they would investigate measures and options protecting the rights of long term residents.

With education being ?key? in the transition to Independence, the PLP told the BIC ?It is imperative that we regain the trust of the public by improving the system?.

An independent Bermuda under a PLP Government would see a Governor-General appointing the Cabinet on the advice of the Prime Minister (formerly the office of the Premier). The post of Governor-General would itself be appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.

As for the judicial system, the PLP told the BIC: ?As clearly articulated publicly and in our 1995 policy paper, the PLP agrees with the retaining of the Privy Council as the ultimate court of final appeal for an independent Bermuda?.

In fact, that should be entrenched in the Constitution, to be changed only by a special majority vote of the House of Assembly and the Senate, they said.

The PLP?s submission can be found at www.gov.bm under the link ?Bermuda Independence Community?.