Nearly two thirds of people oppose Independence, a survey has shown — days after Premier Ewart Brown hinted Government could hold a vote on the subject.

In a Royal Gazette poll carried out two weeks ago, 65.1 percent said they were against breaking links with the UK, with 22.0 percent in favour and 12.9 percent unsure.

This represents little change from the last survey in January, when 64 percent opposed Independence, 20 percent were supportive and 16 percent were not sure.

Last week, Dr. Brown told journalists in the Caribbean he was pro-Independence. He suggested a vote would not take place immediately because supporters could not afford to lose another referendum — but vowed: "When we go again, we will win."

Referendum campaigners last night attacked Government for delaying a vote despite 15,000 people signing a petition calling for one last year.

Bermudians For Referendum representative Michael Marsh said: "It's disgraceful the Government has not already held a referendum. It's dragging its feet because it thinks it will lose the referendum.

"We are not pro or anti Independence. What we are saying is that the people should be allowed to have their say."

Royal Gazette statistics show support for Independence over the past year has remained steadily around the 20 to 30 percent mark.

Last November, the figure was 18 percent, in September it was 29, in July it was 21 and in both March and January last year it stood at 24.

Opposition has consistently been strong, with 65 percent against last November, 51 percent in September, 71 in July, 67 last March and 63 in January 2006.

Our new poll also showed 65.1 percent of people were in favour of a referendum to decide the question of Independence, up from 55.9 percent in January.

Those preferring an election over the issue stands at 22.5 percent, barely changed from 22.0 in January. The proportion of people unsure has fallen to 12.4 percent from 22.2 percent.

Before his election last October, Dr. Brown stated Independence was a key objective, but he has also indicated it would not be an initial focus of his leadership.

Speaking to the Caribbean Media Corporation in Trinidad last week, Dr. Brown said: "You might know that in 1995 there was a referendum in Bermuda that actually failed — people voted against Independence.

"Of course, my party abstained, but when we go again we will win and we cannot risk the chance that we would lose the vote for Independence.

"Undoubtedly for me, Independence is inevitable. Bermuda will not be isolated in that regard. Our political development says that one day our country will be politically independent."

Last week, the Premier said race was a huge factor in the debate, and needed to be fixed before a fair or reasonable vote could take place. He declined to comment last night.

Independence was first comprehensively reviewed in a discussion paper presented to the House of Assembly in 1977. It was later taken up by United Bermuda Party Premier John Swan, whose bid for Independence was lost in a referendum in 1995.

The Royal Gazette phone survey of 404 people was carried out by Research Innovations from March 15 to March 18. It has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.