Independence meeting was told last night.

Exchange controls were being relaxed "to move white wealth out of the Country'', Mr. Dale Butler said.

But whites' fears were unfounded, the author and school principal told the meeting.

"We're not going to go to kick out white people in this Country, that we live side by side with,'' Mr. Butler told the 40-strong audience.

Mr. Butler was speaking at a "parish meeting'' at Somerset Cricket Club, organised by the Committee for the Independence of Bermuda and the club as part of the sporting body's anniversary celebrations.

The committee hopes to hold a series of such events in the run-up to the Independence referendum.

Mr. Butler, a committee member, said opponents of Independence had suggested Bermudians would get better access to the UK and Europe after Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997.

But most black Bermudians were not looking to Britain but to the West Indies and North America.

"How many of us would like to go over there and lose our beautiful beaches and our beautiful homes?'' he asked.

Bermudians through history had changed things gradually, he said. Emancipation of slaves, racial integration and votes for all had been pondered over.

But now was the time for change. Only "intellectuals'' and people over 45 tended to be against cutting ties with the UK.

Independence would not mean erasing the Island's British heritage, which Bermudians respected.

Defence was not an issue because the bases were being closed anyway.

"There is a groundswell for Independence,'' he said. "The Government never saw that there was a groundswell against the hangings in 1977 -- that's why we had the riots.

"They never saw the groundswell in the last election -- they thought they were going to win all the seats.'' The committee chairman, lecturer Mr. Walton Brown, said Bermuda needed to find its own place in the world. Britain would tend to put Europe's interests first in negotiations.

The Island's Police and Regiment were controlled by the Governor but paid for by Bermudians. The Governor, his staff and his entertainment budget cost residents $900,000 a year.

Bermudians had citizenship of no Country, he said. "We don't get any tangible benefits out of our relationship with Britain.'' Independence would mean self-government, true democracy and a boost to the economy long-term.

Bermuda could easily afford to be Independent. It needed embassies or consuls in only London, New York and maybe Canada. Barbados spent $6 million a year on 12 overseas offices.

Despite the "mischievous'' comments of British MP and Bermuda resident Mr.

Rupert Allason, the Island already had a majority of European countries in favour of allowing free entry to Bermudians.

National pride had been criticised as symbolic. But thousands of dollars were being spent on the roads to make sure the Queen -- a powerful symbol -- did not have a bumpy ride.

"There is no single valid reason why Bermuda should not move towards Independence.''