Independence forever. Why was this Government so willing to seriously damage its credibility? Why did the Swan Government decide to mislead the people of Bermuda while pretending to be honest brokers on Independence? Ever since Independence popped up out of nowhere in the wake of the last election, people have been asking why the issue was raised. They have never had an answer and that is disturbing for the Country.

Independence was not even whispered during the election, even by the Progressive Labour Party. It was not an unspoken undercurrent among the people. It was well known that Independence was a subject guaranteed to divide the United Bermuda Party. It did not take an economist to understand that the dependent territories to our south were doing well simply by being dependent.

Anyone with any experience of going independent could tell Bermudians tales of woe. Bermuda's success as a dependent territory was such that it was the envy of just about every other island in any ocean. Many people saw Bermuda as having the best of all worlds, internal freedom, great success and the protection of Britain. Then why was Independence raised? Raising the issue could be a tragic mistake. Bermuda cannot win from the debate, is bound to be unsettled if Independence is rejected and is unlikely to be better off in any way if it goes Independent.

We believe that the debate on Independence is the reason Bermuda is not bouncing back after the recession. The international company scene is unsettled because companies are uncertain of the future and some have doubtless stayed away from Bermuda. How many we will never know, but money follows stability. Tourism is in the doldrums because hotels need upgrading and proprietors are reluctant to spend money when things are unsettled. The local real estate market is low and cash deposits are up because Bermudians are safeguarding their money.

If we debate Independence and it is rejected in a referendum, then there will be a great many who have favoured Independence for 30 years who will be very unhappy. It is never healthy for any country to have a large number of unhappy citizens.

A referendum which went in favour of Independence would leave the majority of the United Bermuda Party's supporters very angry and might well mean the end of the UBP. If Bermuda went Independent on the basis of an incomplete and biased Green Paper it would mean that the richest segment of Bermudian society and that which most actively supports the UBP, would be angry and alienated from the Government. No-one can predict what would result if that segment felt betrayed. It is hard to believe that the five members of the Green Paper committee could not understand the ramifications of treating the public as idiots by producing such a biased document and touting it as unbiased. They have attempted to mislead the Country and, in the process, have seriously damaged the Swan Government's credibility with the people. The committee has also placed the Country in a position of approaching a referendum on Independence, the biggest decision Bermuda will ever make, after a misleading, incomplete and seriously flawed briefing.