The United Bermuda Party is sticking to its position that Independence should be decided by way of a referendum and not a General Election.

Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons yesterday urged Premier Alex Scott to spend more time at home addressing the Island's "pressing challenges" than discussing Independence at overseas conferences.

In response to Government's report that UK Overseas Territories Minister Bill Rammell had promised to come up with Britain's policy on self determination for its colonies by Christmas, Dr. Gibbons said that many people in the community wanted the issue to be decided via a referendum.

"I believe that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Government House are fully aware that in Bermuda there is a clear divergence of opinion on the process by which the community may wish to decide the issue of Independence," he said.

"The PLP's apparent view that it should be by way of an election is not shared by the United Bermuda Party nor indeed by a broad cross section of our community."

He said that was clear from polling results and direct feedback.

"All of us have been told by a broad cross section of the community that they do not feel that a General Election should decide the issue of Independence should it be put on the table and the reason for that it's too fundamental a decision for it to be confused with the numerous other issues that arise during a General Election."

The Premier reported this week that he had brought up the matter at last week's Overseas Territories conference and his view that colonies historically went to Independence by way of a General Election was shared by other heads of government.

And Mr. Rammell had admitted that Whitehall had no clear policy and he would consider the matter and report back by the end of the year.

But Dr. Gibbons said that it was not necessarily the case that what was appropriate for one colony was appropriate for another. "And certainly we feel it is very important that the British Government consider the broader wishes of the people of Bermuda and not just the wishes of the current PLP Government."

He added: "Part of the problem is we haven't heard from Mr. Rammell directly.

"All we've heard is Mr. Scott's version of the events and I would certainly expect that if Mr. Rammell is looking for input here it would not just be from the PLP Government."