The number of Bermudians who support Independence has risen, according to a new survey carried out by

A telephone poll conducted earlier this month reveals that almost 24 percent of people support the idea of national Independence for the Island, compared with just 16 percent last November.

The number of people opposed to Independence has dropped in the same period from 66.3 percent to 62.5.

The results come just a fortnight after Premier Alex Scott told a Press conference that 2006 ?is going to see the beginning of discussions on Independence?.

The latest Research Innovations survey of 402 people, carried out between January 10 and 13, found that 13.6 percent of people were not sure whether Bermuda should break its ties with Britain.

Support for sovereignty has fluctuated throughout the last 12 months. Last March, 15.7 percent backed it but that figure had risen to 28 percent by August.

In the latest study, 28 percent of men polled backed Independence and 59.9 percent were opposed. More than 21 percent of women supported a stand-alone nation, while 64.2 per cent were against.

Those aged between 36 and 54 were the biggest supporters of the idea, with 27.1 percent of those questioned in that age group in favour.

Older residents, aged 55-plus, were largely against. More than 63 percent of the 160 polled opposed Independence and 24.4 percent were in favour.

Only 14.7 percent of the 68 people aged 18 to 35 questioned wanted Independence; 60.3 percent were against and 25 percent were not sure.

In terms of racial groups, 32.2 percent of 199 blacks polled supported Independence, 51.8 percent opposed and 16.1 percent were not sure.

A total of 11.3 percent of the 142 whites questioned supported sovereignty plans ? a big increase on the 3.7 percent of the 134 whites asked the same question last November.

Income appeared to play little part in people?s support for cutting ties with the UK. Just under a quarter of the Island?s poorest ? those on less than $50,000 a year ? supported Independence. The figure for middle-earners ? those on between $50,000 and $100,000 ? was 26.3 percent and 21.5 percent for higher earners (over $100,000).

The poll has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.