to vote in the referendum on Independence? No matter what the PLP says, this amounts to asking people not to exercise their democratic right. This request hinders the ultimate democratic process, a clear-cut open vote, vote for vote, on a single major issue which will have an enormous impact on the entire Country's future. We have grave doubts whether a political party has the moral right to ask its supporters not to freely express themselves in an open democratic vote.

Yet the PLP has asked the Bermudian people not to exercise their right to decide their future. That is an awesome thing to take away from anybody. We can only imagine how loud the PLP would be screaming if anyone else tried to take away the people's right to vote.

What can be wrong with the people having their say? It seems to us that the hierarchy of the PLP is simply being stubborn. They decided that they wanted an election over Independence. The problem is that an election would inevitably confuse the issue of Independence because other issues would arise.

Also, the PLP would support Independence and the parliamentary leaders of the UBP might support Independence no matter what their membership wanted. That would leave the people of Bermuda with no choice in the matter at all and would force them to vote for Independence or else risk defeat for the party of their choice. Given the polls, it may be that is the only way the hierarchy of the PLP thinks it can win a vote on Independence.

We have to wonder what the PLP is afraid of.

Perhaps it is afraid that in a free referendum significant numbers of its supporters will vote against Independence thus displaying a weakness in the PLP. Perhaps it is afraid that Bermudians will vote against Independence and that it will then be difficult to resurrect Independence as an issue for another ten years. Perhaps it is afraid that after Hong Kong reverts to China in 1997 Britain will make special accommodations for the remaining territories and Independence will die as an issue.

The result now may be a referendum which is open to question because insufficient people vote. That was the case with the referendum on capital punishment even though the majority was in favour. Forty percent of all eligible voters must vote in favour of Independence. We heard PLP Senators complaining about the price tag for the referendum yet they seem prepared to totally waste the price of the referendum, which makes little sense.

Clearly there are people who normally vote for the PLP who will ignore or defy the request.

What position will the PLP be in if a significant number defy the request? For that matter, what position will Sir John Swan be in if there is a meaningful vote and the referendum goes against Independence which he now publicly supports?