campaigned on Independence, the party chairman said yesterday.

"With the information that we have available, if we had used that as far as preparing the electorate that we were going to go for Independence in this general election, the information would have definitely assisted us,'' Mr.

Victor Fishington told The Royal Gazette .

"When the election had been called, we would have said: `This will be an election plank -- Independence under these conditions','' he said.

"I think it would have'' tipped the balance in favour of the PLP on October 5, he said.

The party could have talked Independence before the vote was called, he said.

But "hindsight is 20-20'', and PLP canvassing had not shown that Independence was important.

"We had discussed it at one point,'' but the central committee and Parliamentary caucus decided "it was a non-election issue''.

The party "took it off our platform a couple of years ago,'' but always said a PLP Government would educate Bermudians about Independence, then fight an election on the issue.

Mr. Fishington, 48, said in a rare interview that the United Bermuda Party Government was now trying to "checkmate'' the PLP on what should have been its own issue.

In setting up a Commission of Inquiry, Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan was telling the Opposition that after supporting Independence for 30 years, "here is your opportunity to participate, and you don't want to participate,'' Mr.

Fishington said.

But Sir John had rarely consulted the PLP in the past, he said. "If he has consulted, the advice he is getting has just gone in one ear and out the other.'' In a surprise move, Government has called for a public inquiry and referendum on Independence this year.

A Commission of Inquiry, with its court-like powers, would intimidate interested Bermudians, he said.

Although Independence was not mentioned in the UBP's campaign Blueprint or Government's Throne Speech, "I don't know if it was such a thing as a hidden agenda.

"In the back of Sir John's mind has always been Independence for Bermuda,'' he said.

With the make-up of Cabinet and number of new MPs in the House, "it looks like this would be Sir John's best shot at Independence as a UBP Premier.'' The PLP planned a series of public forums on Independence, and the first one was well received, he said. People wanted to know how Indpendence would affect them, he said.

Voter registration and encouraging supporters to vote remained important jobs for the PLP between elections, he said.

The PLP's delegate conference this year would include elections of party officers, the leader, and deputy leader, but Mr. Fishington said he did not expect a challenge to Mr. Frederick Wade. "The party leadership is very strong,'' he said.

PLP chairman since 1991, Mr. Fishington joined the Bermuda Telephone Company at age 13 and is now an assistant manager in the switching services department.

His political involvement began with the Bermuda Industrial Union. Mr.

Fishington worked in the campaign to bring the BIU to Telco in 1966 and later served as president of the union's telephone division.

He was active with the Sandys branch of the PLP before moving to central operations.

Mr. Fishington is first vice-president of the BIU Credit Union, president of the Bermuda Workers Cooperative Society, and honorary secretary of the Bermuda Technical Society.

He attended Prospect Secondary School for Boys and Bermuda Technical Institute and has taken management courses around North America through Telco. Separated with two children, Mr. Fishington enjoys bowling, tennis and music when relaxing.

Mr. Victor Fishington.