abolish the death penalty, the people of Bermuda have still had little say -- and even less information about the Government's position -- on the linked issue of closer ties with the UK.

Abolishing the death penalty and judicial corporal punishment will improve Bermuda's case for getting British passports under the UK White Paper. But there has still been little discussion on whether Bermuda should take the offer up.

For Bermudians with close family or emotional ties to the UK, the prospect of a British passport has immediate appeal. It would enable them to live and work with their relatives and friends, and to bring back the skills they have learned.

The case is harder to make for those who do not feel a cultural link to Britain. But the practical benefits of a British passport are still compelling. Ease of movement around Europe and the rest of the world and the chance for Bermudians -- both young and old -- to be educated and to work in Britain or Europe could have enormous benefits.

Nonetheless, there will be those who cannot see how closer links would benefit them and will ask whether there are disadvantages to the move.

Some of the arguments have already been made. Britain is already requiring higher standards of financial accountability and transparency from its overseas territories and is also requiring the territories to meet the same human rights standards to which it is a signatory.

It has been argued that Bermuda, whether it were to retain the status quo, move closer to Britain or seek Independence, would still have to meet the standards being required by Britain and other world organisations. That is probably true; the alternative would be to become a pariah offshore domicile.

And the human rights changes being required by Britain should be palatable to most Bermudians -- the death penalty has not been used in 22 years, judicial corporal punishment in 40.

Nonetheless, much of the debate about the White Paper is being carried out in a vacuum because the Government, despite its trips to the UK, has released little information to the general public.

Whether Government supports or opposes the move, it has a responsibility to inform the Country on what the issues are and what the pros and cons are likely to be.

The take note motion on the White Paper which the House of Assembly debated in July shed some light on the problems and noted that some of the language in the Paper was vague.

And the Government promised then that as more information become available the public would be informed. More than four months have passed since then and nothing has been heard. The people deserve to know why not.