Bermuda's movement to independence is firmly on the agenda, judging from sentiments expressed at Thursday's Black Agenda 2003 forum and a reassurance from Transport Minister Ewart Brown that his Government was still pro-independence.

"Independence is on the agenda for Bermuda," said Dr. Brown. "And I just want you to try to be as patient as I have been because it would have been November 10 (1998)."

Political independence was merely a step in the right direction, and is "not a solution in and of itself," he said.

"But it's on the agenda and believe me there are people who will safeguard that issue."

Asked later whether the subject will be on his party's political platform for the coming elections, Dr. Brown said "It could be."

First to bring up the subject was Gavin Smith, the youngest member of a four-person panel which discussed their views on issues faced by the Island's black community.

"The answer, inevitably is the destruction of colonialism in Bermuda. People in Bermuda are still living out the mental slavery that has been installed by colonialism in our country." Mr. Smith said. The remarks drew applause from the over-350 strong audience and prompted a number of people to tell of their shame at being Bermudian but carrying a British passport.

"Why are we so nervous to talk about independence?" asked one man.

"We skate around it... I am 67 years old and I have no right.. I walk around with a British passport in my pocket. We go around living a lie."

Many in the audience agreed with his sentiment that independence would foster a collective identity. "When we pass a law and you have to go to England to approve that law then we are a Mickey Mouse government," he added.

Panellist Eugenie Simmons agreed with the independence sentiment. "We are a collection of people in Bermuda, but we are not a nation," she said.

"And when you are a collection of people you have no culture, you import everybody's hegemonic assumptions about who we are, how we should respond. And until we determine who we are as Bermudians, as the majority who live in Bermuda we are going to continue to have these problems. Because we import reforms and solutions and we identify with causes that are not ours."

"The definition of colonialism is a system designed to exploit weak people," said Mr. Smith. "I don't feel weak. I don't see weak people out here. So let's get strong, let's get stronger, let's wake up."

But Mr. Smith also demanded that Government not embark on the process of Independence without first educating and consulting the people.

"Don't throw it on us," he said, addressing Dr. Brown. "Don't give us a referendum next week and expect people to be really able to understand the fullness of what's taking place. We need a comprehensive education about what would happen with independence - to teach people the pros and cons," Mr. Smith said.

Dr. Brown replied that he once held the same view but had since changed his mind after research.

"One night I said to myself : which people got educated before they took their independence? And I went through the history books and I could not find one example of a people who had a comprehensive educational programme to seek independence. Political independence is as natural as night follows day. It's a natural thing. And I don't want to believe for one minute that my people need any special preparation. What we need is for people like you and this brother and myself to continue to talk about it. And not be afraid to talk about it."

He added that he would never discuss the "ifs" of independence. "Because I have studied lower animals and they want independence."