Independence for Bermuda could be decided by a combination of an election and a referendum.

Such a ?unique solution? would not be ruled out as a way forward for Bermuda to decide its future, according to UK Foreign Office minister Lord David Triesman.

That is his reported view after a meeting with Premier Alex Scott in London during a round of talks with the Overseas Territories Consultative Council.

But the Premier?s decision to use his current visit to the British capital to raise the issue of how Bermuda might set out on the road to Independence has drawn criticism back home from the Leader of the Opposition.

Grant Gibbons said Mr. Scott has no right to go to London and talk about how the Island might resolve its Independence issue without first talking to Bermudians about any ?unique solution?.

And he said an election should not be used as a mechanism, either partially or wholly, to decide the Independence question.

Along with other heads of Government from UK Overseas Territories, Mr. Scott is in the UK to meet with British MPs and ministers to discuss relations with the UK.

At the opening day of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Lord Triesman outlined the standing relationships between representatives of the Queen and each of the Territories.

In a statement from the Premier?s office, it was reported that: ?Healthy discussions ensued on the topic of Independence with the majority of the territories stating their interest in gaining that status over varying periods of time.

?The question of referendum versus election was less weighty than it has been in Bermuda. Premier Scott queried if the British would give fair consideration if the decision to go to Independence by a unique method agreed by the people of Bermuda was submitted.?

Lord Triesman recognised that each territory is individually distinctive and said, from his experience, the move towards Independence went down the line of an election providing a platform for discussion, which was then followed by a legislative process, a campaign of pros and cons and then a final decision arrived at from a referendum.

However, Lord Triesman is reported to have said that a unique solution of election and referendum would not necessarily be out of the equation.

Quite what is being suggested by the term ?unique solution? is unclear, but it hasn?t impressed opposition leader Dr. Gibbons.

He told : ?From our perspective it is not in Bermuda?s interest to combine the issue in a referendum and an election.

?Independence is irrevocable. It can?t be changed. It makes no sense to take such an important issue and combine it with other domestic issues in an election. Voters should be allowed to focus on this issue separately.?

Dr. Gibbons said it was ?disrespectful? of the Premier ?to start to lobby the UK Government when he should be talking to the Bermudian voters about his ?unique solution?.

?It almost looks like he wants to take a backdoor approach.?

In Dr. Gibbons? view a date needs to be set for a referendum on Independence before March 2006 in order to bring closure to the current debate, which has been ongoing for more than 18 months.

During the first day of the OTCC meetings in London, Bermuda learned that the modernising the Constitution to include the office of Ombudsman was in keeping with the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands.

There was also a presentation on disaster management with an appeal for all territories to continually update their disaster management plans. Bermuda will exchange information with BVI, whose plan is considered one of the best in the region.