Premier Alex Scott was holding private talks with UK Foreign Office minister Lord David Triesman late yesterday and the question of Independence is thought to have been amongst issues discussed.

It was one of the topics broached earlier this week during sessions of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council in London, which were headed by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Lord Triesman.

The Premier reportedly tested the water during the OTCC meetings with the British Government to see if Bermuda would be able to provide a ?unique solution? in how it deals with the issue of deciding on whether to become Independent or not.

The idea is thought to be for a combination of election and referendum and it appears it would not be ruled out as a way forward in the view of Lord Triesman.

is awaiting officially sanctioned word from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on details of the private discussion held between the Premier and Lord Triesman.

It was at the end of two days of sessions involving the OTCC that the two men were able to get together for a private discussion.

In a statement, Mr. Scott said the meetings between the heads of Government of Overseas Territories and the British Government had been some of the most instructive sessions he had attended.

?There is a cohesion between the Territories and that has made the meetings quite productive,? said Mr. Scott.

?Lord Triesman has an affable demeanour and appears quite willing to listen and fully engage in both the concerns and possible solutions to the issues of the Territories.?

As a result of the meeting, there will be closer co-operation between the OTs in dealing with drugs and crime.

This is likely to take a number of forms, including sharing prolific prosecutors from any one of the regions to prosecute serious crimes, inter-island co-operation for relocation of witnesses where necessary and regular meetings to discuss improving methods used to combat crime.

Most of the OTs attending the London gathering reported an upsurge in drugs and crime and the UK Government expressed concerns about rising crime and its impact on society.

Bermuda and Cayman Islands have now begun discussions about sharing knowledge and expertise to combat drugs and serious crime.

A soon to be opened state-of-the-art forensic facility in the Cayman Islands has also been offered for use to Bermuda and the other Territories.

On the final day of the OTCC meetings the discussions ranged from external relations to financial and European Union issues, good governance and the environment.

One of the frustrations mentioned by a number of OTs was the slow moving process of entrustment, a mechanism that requires any Territory to make representations to the British Government before negotiating external affairs on behalf of itself.

Such delays are felt to be counterproductive to negotiations. Currently Bermuda is awaiting entrustment approval from the UK so that it can move ahead with bilateral agreements on tourism.