Independence referendum legislation, according to the Senate President.

Although the Upper Chamber adjourned until March 2 when it last met, Senators could be recalled earlier, on February 23, the Hon. Albert Jackson told The Royal Gazette .

"I am not yet in a position to say whether it would be possible, because some of the members are off the Island,'' he said.

Asked whether the early meeting would be called to deal with the Independence Referendum Act 1994, which cleared the House of Assembly on Budget Day, Sen.

Jackson said there were a number of items to be dealt with, and that was one of them.

Government would like to hold its Independence referendum by the end of the year, and the Opposition has accused it of trying to ram the enabling legislation through Parliament.

The Commission of Inquiry is to have up to six months to report, after which a referendum is to be held within 120 days.

Although the Commission could be appointed before the referendum bill was passed, Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan said this week he would not ask the Governor to appoint the seven-member commission until the bill had passed the Senate.

If the Senate sat on February 23, it could give the referendum bill first reading that day and final passage on March 2.

But the delay would be prolonged if the Senate did not return until March 2.

It could give the bill first reading that day, but the next sitting on March 9 would conflict with the Royal Visit.

It was possible the Senate would not sit that day, Sen. Jackson said.

Voting on the bill is expected to follow party lines in the Senate. All three Independent Senators were surveyed by The Royal Gazette , and none was prepared to say how he or she would vote.