The PLP said yesterday the Opposition insulted the country by distancing themselves from the independence debate.

However, the UBP said either the Bermuda Independence Commission (BIC) or the PLP ?screwed up? by leaving out its submission.

?The Premier of this country asked and offered the United Bermuda Party, and gave them an opportunity to join the discussion but they chose to exclude themselves,? Progressive Labour Party (PLP) spokesman Scott Simmons said yesterday.

?How they handle their relationship with Bermuda Independence Commission whether they have submitted a report, whether they have telephoned the Chairman whether or not they called any members and gave them an opinion or sent them a fax, I have absolutely no idea and that is not part of my remit. But the bottom line is from the very beginning, the United Bermuda Party have distanced themselves from the issues pertaining to the independence discussion in this country.

?While they have done that it has been disappointing to us because they represent a significant constituency in this country and the fact they have omitted themselves, did not wish to discuss it is an insult to the whole of Bermuda, and it is a tragedy really.?

Mr. Simmons said BIC was not tied to any political party and the PLP did not have any problem with anyone themselves with the independence debate.

?We have not influenced them, we simply have offered to them our opinion on how we believe independence should be implemented in this country,? he said.

He said the PLP had offered the Island an opportunity to speak on independence, relationships between races and relationships with business and Non-Bermudian society.

The people of Bermuda will decide ultimately for or against independence, he said, but the PLP urged the public to at least have a discussion about it.

And it was sad, he said, that the Opposition stated publicly they would have no part in the debate, then once the report was out, saw glaring irregularities in it.

?There are those who won?t engage in the independence debate and those who will. But I believe every single individual this country should have an opportunity to discuss it,? he said. ?I am just sad.?

Mr. Simmons said the lack of UBP support in BIC was expected and regretful.

?When a Bermudian stands up and says I want no part of it that?s sad because you are robbing yourself of an opportunity.?

?Most Bermudians should take great hope from this particular document because it says a lot about us,? he said. ?While money drives this country there still are undercurrents in this country and there are issues outside of the norm, unofficially sub-societies and all of that. But there are elements of our society we must come to grips with.?

However, UBP spokesman Jamahl Simmons fired back at the PLP and said its efforts to deceive and distract from the facts was ?as pathetic as it is predictable?.

He said the UBP submitted a 42 page submission to BIC, which was either deliberately or unintentionally omitted from the final BIC report.

?The Premier and now the spokesman for the PLP have each attempted to deceive the people into believing that the United Bermuda Party never made a submission to BIC,? he said. ?We understand that deception and unethical behaviour is acceptable practice within the PLP, but it is not acceptable to us and it is not acceptable to the people of Bermuda.

?The fact is either BIC or the PLP screwed up by leaving out the UBPs submission and instead of deceiving the people and attacking the UBP, the PLP should act like adults and tell the truth for a change.?