Government has ?more or less? completed its position papers on Independence according to Premier Alex Scott.

Yesterday Mr. Scott said the Progressive Labour Party and Government will be meeting in less than two weeks to chart the way forward on Independence and social issues initiatives.

?That?s when we begin to coalesce the legislative framework over the next two or three years,? he said.

The meetings will focus on the party?s position on Independence and some 150 initiatives under the theme ?addressing the negative elements of our society,? the Premier explained.

?That social agenda will be the rungs to the ladder that we will have to climb to accomplish this,? Mr. Scott said.

?The road to a new Bermuda is going to be paved by our joint contributions. Bermuda works best when Bermuda works together. That?s the glue, that?s the commitment, that?s the sense of community that?s going to see us grow from strength to strength.?

The Premier said that the position papers may not be presented to the public until after the national discussion on Independence because Government was still in a listening mode.

?We will try to encourage discussion on the subject and we will refine our position as we go on. If we came out and say this is what we believe, why bother about discussion,? he said.

?It?s going to be an ?us?, not a PLP, not the UBP, not a segment of the population. It?s going to require all of us to see the merits of where we are and the prospect of where we might be as to sovereignty.?

The Premier called on the country to begin discussions on Independence at his party?s Founder?s Day luncheon in February.

?I can?t say I have seen any informed discussion which has broadened the debate in society and that?s what we are trying to encourage,? the Premier said when asked for his impressions of public discussions on Independence so far.

?There hasn?t been a robust discussion - we are setting an outline to our members... and then we will come out and lay out our thoughts on the way forward. You?re watching a process of consultation which the government and the party is going through.?

He said Ministers, backbenchers and the party membership had been encouraged to express their views and he was continuing to listen to views of the wider community.

?It allows me to just understand where Bermuda is on the subject so I know where we are,? Mr. Scott continued.

?There is room for real information to be put to the public domain, not just people?s views on well how do we decide - that?s very much like the youngster saying what college are you going to attend.?

And Mr. Scott stressed that regardless of how the matter is decided people should be informed first.

?We have as a country put the subject to a referendum before the public really understanding the nature of what they are asked to consider. It?s easy to say yes or no without the person really knowing what they are saying yes or no to.?

He added that if Independence is put as a ?yes? or ?no? question the response is likely to be ?more emotive? than informed.

?We are probably going to insist on a position where the public can still say yes or no but then they will be more informed.?

And asked whether he would want Bermuda to adopt the United Nations timeline of decolonisation by the year 2010, he said he would not commit the country prematurely because that would undermine the purpose of discussion.