The Bermuda Independence Commission tried to be not only a commission on Independence, but also an independent commission, its chairman said yesterday.

And Bishop Vernon Lamb said he hoped the BIC?s report released yesterday would ?serve as a light to the path of the future? ? regardless of the choice Bermuda made on Independence.

He said the Commission?s members also made every effort to provide a comprehensive and authoritative report that would serve for meaningful debate by the Bermudian community ? so that they could make informed decisions about the future.

?As this report is being released, you must appreciate the fact that there were long hours invested by this commission, taking them away from their families and in my case, away from my religious responsibilities of not only one congregation, but many,? he said.

?It has been our privilege to dream of a future in this country, but even more to investigate and conclude what it would cost in its many aspects to achieve that future,? he said.

?I want to say that our sincere prayer for you as the political directorate is that you will have the spirit of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and counsel that as you deliberate, you will be able to carry this exercise to the next level and indeed lead this country to where God would have us go.?

He said he looked for forward to a progressive and concerted effort to address the report. ?We have given you recommendations in the report that you required of us have been clearly laid out and I trust that you will appreciate those recommendations and the urgency that they carry,? he said.

In essence, with the release of the report, the BIC will no longer exist, and Bishop Lamb said he doubted the commission would be re-constituted in the future.

But on the education process, he said he was a pastor in the community so he was always before the people.

?And I have a sense of responsibility towards the future of this country, so I believe I will have my roles to play at the right time,? he said.