both of Bermuda's political leaders.

Despite the continuing efforts of Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan, the number in favour of Independence, which he favours so openly, is declining. Mr.

Frederick Wade, the Progressive Labour Party leader, has asked PLP supporters not to vote, yet the number of those saying they will vote in the referendum remains high.

This places both leaders in an extremely difficult position.

This lack of support is understandable because Sir John has failed to give one compelling reason for Independence and Mr. Wade is asking people to surrender their hard-won right to vote. It is sad because both men, now clearly out of step with many of their supporters, have made enormous contributions to their country at considerable personal sacrifice.

It is sadder still because this strange and unnecessary Independence impasse could so easily have been avoided.

It was clear from the beginning that Independence had very little public support and that there was no real public call or "grass roots'' movement for a referendum to decide on Independence.

Then too it is almost unheard of for a political leader to ask his supporters not to exercise a hard won democratic right to vote. By all means a leader can suggest which way his followers should vote, but do not ask them not to vote in a free and thoroughly democratic election.

The entire Independence issue has been an eye-opening chapter in Bermuda's brief history of party politics. Some UBP leaders have fought for Independence which the majority of their followers clearly did not want. PLP leaders, who have a history of fighting hard for people's rights, then asked their followers not to vote.

The UBP provided a Green Paper on Independence which was an embarrassment and reflected badly on Bermuda as an open and well-run society. It then followed up with "position papers'' in which the vexed question of Bermudian citizenship was all but "double Dutch'' and guaranteed to confuse and concern those involved. Once again, in the "position papers'' the UBP attempted to whitewash the costs of Independence. We must wonder why the UBP continues to mock the intelligence of Bermudians.

The PLP decided to stage forums to explain to the people why their party wanted them not to vote. But the explanations have been neither clear nor persuasive. In any case, the PLP seemed only to be preaching to the converted.

Bermuda has a well educated, well travelled and intelligent population. The ins and outs of this Independence debate demonstrate that the people are best off making their own decisions for their own reasons. Bermudians should think about what is best for them and their families and what is best for Bermuda and vote their conscience on Independence.

The reaction of the public to Independence is entirely healthy and indicates that Bermudians do stand up for themselves. They do not want to be dictated to by politicians, or anyone else. The people understood that the politicians were out of step and out of touch.

After the last election Bermudians wanted the Government to get on with sorting out the problems of the Country, from racism to crime to sagging tourism. Bermuda had been through the recession and people wanted the economy strengthened, not disrupted. They were not very interested in Independence as an issue and did not know why they were faced with a debate and a referendum they had not asked for.

But, like it or not, we are having a referendum and people should get out and be counted on the most important issue Bermuda is likely to face. Despite the referendum being called as inconveniently as possible in the middle of the major holiday month when we will all be panting from the humidity, Bermudians must get to the polls and vote their choice.