crisis of confidence in the general leadership of the Country. Seldom can there have been a time when national uncertainty was as great as it is right now.

Some of the problem arises because Bermuda has not yet recovered from the recession and all that a recession meant in terms of loss of jobs, soft tourism, retail sales problems and decreased real estate values. But some of the problem is political uncertainty and arises because people were not given time to settle down after the last election campaign. Very quickly, the public was rushed into another campaign, different in the sense that it was on Independence but just as political and perhaps more important to Bermuda's future.

People are made uncertain by the unexpected. A debate on Independence and a referendum were not expected simply because neither had been raised in the last election campaign. The major political parties both knew that the barest suggestion of Independence during an election was political poison. Despite that, there was still room to consider Independence. Careful consideration of Bermuda's options is not a bad thing and information is desirable.

Independence could have been considered as an option in an atmosphere of calm with accurate information being provided to the people on which to make informed decisions. But that was not to be. Politicians very quickly turned consideration into confrontation. Anyone who spoke against Independence was attacked by the politicians and vilified but, in turn, politicians cried foul when people responded. Very soon it was clear that rational and open debate was impossible. There are a great many people who feel that in creating this divisive situation the politicians of all stripes have lost their way if not their senses.

The referendum question itself is simple but the politics surrounding the question are now very complex.

The Progressive Labour Party betrayed itself and angered some followers by insisting that people should not go to the referendum and exercise their hard won right to vote. Annoyed because the UBP had stolen its cause and moved to a referendum on Independence, the PLP refused to play. Having supported Independence for some 30 years but having not mentioned Independence in recent elections, the PLP asked its followers not to take part in a free and equal democratic vote simply because the PLP could not have its own way. Why? We think it was clear to the leaders of the PLP that a referendum would go against Independence and might kill the issue for ten years. Therefore they felt they had a better chance of approval at an election where they could complicate a simple vote and obscure the Independence issue with all sorts of other issues, including race.

The UBP decided to tear itself apart and to behave undemocratically. The party political leaders campaigned openly in favour of Independence despite promises of balance and neutrality and despite the fact that the great majority of UBP supporters oppose Independence at this time. The UBP began a fight with its own supporters. It also began to lie to the public and to contradict itself.

It appointed a Cabinet committee and produced a Green Paper which attracted more attention for what it left out than what it included. The Premier launched what often seemed like a one man campaign for Independence. A political broadcast and parish forums were clearly rigged to be pro-Independence. Then the UBP Government disgraced itself and used civil servants at Government Information Services and public money to produce highly subjective advertising which is supportive of Independence.

As a result of all this almost unbelievable behaviour, the public has lost faith in both groups of political leaders. Many people do not want any of them to run Bermuda now and they certainly do not want them to govern an independent Bermuda.