Progressive Labour Party stalwart and former Government Minister Arthur Hodgson last night spoke in support of an Independence referendum separate from a general election vote.

Acknowledging his view was at odds with many in the PLP Mr Hodgson, who once challenged for leadership of the country, said he believed the Opposition United Bermuda Party's approach to a separate referendum was the correct choice. The former Rhodes Scholar and Environment Minister ? who appeared before the United Nations De-colonisation Committee in 1968 ? made his remarks at a well-attended public forum to discuss the Independence question and what cost it would have for the Island.

"I do think that the stand on a referendum that the UBP takes is the correct stand," Mr. Hodgson, who was the moderator for the meeting, told the audience at the Bethel AME Church, Shelly Bay.

"I think Bermudians will vote for Independence. It seems to me that it is a question of trust."

And Mr. Hodgson warned that a Independent Bermuda should look to model aspects of the US political set-up to ensure there was an adequate separation of power between the Government and commissions which would look after areas such as the military, police and judiciary ? areas currently under the remit of the Governor.

Earlier in the meeting the audience heard from a panel consisting of Senators Walter Roban (PLP) and Kim Swan (UBP) and also Bermuda Chamber of Commerce president Peter Everson.

Sen. Roban said the reserved powers that currently reside with the Governor regarding the appointment of judges and in Police and military issues would, in an Independent Bermuda, be under the control of independent commissions separate from Government.

He said Bermudians would not lose the right to work in the UK, but would become Commonwealth citizens enjoying freedoms like those of Australians and New Zealanders who find employment in the UK with minimum restrictions.

UBP Sen. Swan said Bermudians should be given the chance to vote on Independence without it being tied to a general election where "other dynamics" come into play.

"We probably have the most collectively learned voting populace in the world. Our voting community is very sophisticated and we should trust their wisdom," he said.

Representing the view of international business Mr. Everson said business communities around the world sought certainties such as laws and long-standing legal statues. He said Independence would be a "change of the ultimate referee" on the making and changing of laws, so the business community would take note.

He added: "Businesses don't vote but they do pay taxes. Businesses would be concerned about rising costs (of running a country) because they tend to foot the bill at the end of the day."

Sen. Roban said the extra finance needed for Bermuda to look after its own external affairs would, by his calculations, form the smallest segment of the country's annual budget.