that it would be "politically indecent'' for Government to take Bermuda to Independence before the next general election is called.

The Hon. Sir John Swan said he believed Mr. Wade was growing "desperate'' as he realised his supporters were not heeding the Progressive Labour Party's call to abstain from voting in the August 15 Independence referendum.

"He is now seeking to muddy the waters,'' Sir John said.

The Premier felt there was nothing new in a statement this week by Cabinet Ministers the Hon. Irving Pearman, the Hon. Jerome Dill, and the Hon. David Saul that Government planned to take Bermuda to Independence before an election is held if it receives a "yes'' vote in the referendum.

The PLP's position "has always been Independence by way of an election'', Sir John said. "The UBP's position has always been by way of a referendum.'' And the British Government has said it would accept a referendum decision, he added.

Rather than being indecent, "it is politically correct and democratically decent, because it puts the decision in the hands of the people and not in the hands of the few''.

To hold a referendum followed by a general election would create a situation of "double jeopardy'', the Premier said.

If Bermudians vote "yes'', Government plans to convene a Constitutional Conference and take Bermuda to Independence before the next general election must be held in 1998.

"Mr. Wade is starting to see the people are not going to succumb to intimidation or fear tactics that have been applied in the past, or being deprived of their vote as a result of him wanting to have the situation managed his way,'' Sir John said.

How could Mr. Wade justify his call for supporters to abstain? the Premier asked. At the time of the vote last year on the bill to decriminalise gay sex, several churches asked members of the PLP to abstain or vote against the private member's bill.

"They made it very clear it was their democratic right; it was a vote of conscience, and they were going to exercise their vote of conscience,'' the Premier said.

Meanwhile, another pro-Independence member of Cabinet, Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness, predicted turn-out in the referendum would exceed 80 percent and most Bermudians would vote "yes''.

"As more and more Bermudians discuss this issue, more and more Bermudians are discovering the reasons we should move toward nationhood,'' Mr. Edness said.