The following opinion piece was written by former UBP Cabinet Minister, Mrs.

Gloria McPhee (OBE).

*** I have never before experienced Bermuda as it is at present. There is such uncertainty ... almost like a hurricane is expected, even if the day is sunny and the barometer steady. There seems to be no happiness around. There is gloom everywhere. Is this because the politicians have Bermudians caught up in a web of political maneuvering and political uncertainty? The public is being fed a daily dose of political fodder issued in the Press by the politicians, especially those playing starring roles in "The Independence Rush''. Is it with the hope that the people will get so fed up that they will say "yes'' to Independence to put the issue behind them? My hope is that Bermudians are not that gullible.

The Premier, Sir John Swan, continues to tell us that he believes in "Participatory Democracy''. He says that his "Government practises `Participatory Democracy'''. The question can be posed "Participation on the part of whom?'' -- and "When?'' He and his cronies only, not even the full Cabinet, participated in the decision to go for Independence and to go right now. The Government does not even have a policy on Independence. If it were a Participatory Democracy, the Premier would have issued the pros and cons of Independence and had explanatory notes for the benefit of all voting Bermudians and their teenagers, before having a referendum to decide whether or not this "forever and eternity'' decision is taken.

The referendum is not an act of Participatory Democracy. The question being asked is "Do you want Independence?'' You are not participating in anything.

You might as well be asked "Would you like a new car?'' Both questions have equal value. For Bermudians to participate in this vital step, the question might read "Do you want Independence NOW?'' Most people want Independence.

Most would like a new car. However a sensible and fair government does not sneak in Independence. If a government is concerned about the welfare of the people and not its own ends, it will take the Country to Independence on the upturn; not when we are wallowing in debt, high taxation, increase in violent crime, increase in murders, increase in unemployment, increase in racism -- from both races (a whole new Ministry has been created to deal with it). A wise man buys a new car when the family can afford it; or when the purchase is utterly necessary because the one he has has broken down.

Why this rush to Independence when the Government is having problems trying to manage the many facets of Responsible Government? What is the gain for the people? Will the citizenry be better off, or will it be worse off? A few politicians are beating the drum of "Bountifulness and plenty! Prosperity for all''. It's a sad day when senior politicians statesmen would not behave that way -- would stoop to flippant propaganda to push a country to such a final step.

In a dependent territory, as Bahamas was and Bermuda is, a Premier has power.

In an independent country, like the Bahamas is, the Premier becomes the Prime Minister and has absolute power. Lord Acton said: "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely'' . .. this explains why it is assumed that because all men are equal and absolute power corrupted the Bahamas, it could happen in Bermuda. The Bahamas has over a billion dollar debt. The new government will need many, many yeas to restore Bahamas to its former glory ... if it ever can.

I have had a very close association with the Bahamas for over 40 years. In fact, I regard it as my second home. We lived there between 1983 and 1985, when the Commission of Inquiry into the drug problem was going on. I have returned at least three times since. I know, and I want Bermudians to know, that Mr. Eldon Trimingham was not scaremongering. He was telling the truth.

There was corruption and crime and violence under the previous government before Independence. But nothing like what it has been since Independence. I could give hundreds of examples culled from the Bahamas newspapers of stories of horror, violence, corruption and the destruction of people from the use of drugs. I give a few: Violence and drugs. (1:) A drug-crazed college graduate used a sawed-off shotgun one afternoon to kill his father, a business man; his mother, a bank manager and his three school-aged sisters, living in a middle-income neighbourhood. He then poured gasoline over the bodies; tried to burn the bodies and roll the car over a cliff. He failed in the last two actions. (2:) An older man, tied and gagged, was forced to watch, under threats of death not to move, while his wife (also a senior citizen) was gang-raped by thugs.

Corruption and drugs. (1:) A small Bahamian island changed ownership three times. It was purchased three times by three different foreign drug lords who were engaged in drug activity -- with the help of Bahamians.

(2:) Norman Cay, an island in the beautiful Exuma Cays was "occupied'' by a Colombian, who drove out the few residents, destroyed their homes, took over the Cay, built his own refrigerated hangar and prevented anyone from coming ashore by having Colombian armed guards and watch dogs patrolling. One of our politicians asked recently, "Who would invade Bermuda?'' After Independence Bermuda will be on its own in the middle of the vast Atlantic. To whom will we turn if a similar thing occurred in Bermuda? We won't have England as Turks and Caicos had.

I suggest that before the politicians push us to Independence, they should prove to the people that they can function as capable politicians. They have been slow in proving this; which is evident from the many problems in the community -- and England had nothing to do with it! And should Bermudians be duped into Independence NOW, Bermuda will be no better off than it is now. It will be worse.

The politicians should be working to solve some of our problems before even thinking about taking that step into Independence. To list a few problems created by Government decisions: 1: Immigration has given hundreds of a totally different people permits for jobs that Bermudians should have. This is a case of Government catering to the wants of a select group and not the needs of the majority. In the 70s the Immigration Department clamped down on work permits to the people from the Phillippines -- allowing in only specialists in the food department of hotels.

This action was taken to prevent the build-up of a totally new group of people establishing themselves in Bermuda. Because of the lack of consideration for Bermudians a new and vastly different culture with a foreign language, a foreign religion, and a different race is poised to breed and claim a piece of this small rock and mythical pie. If this Government were providing good management it would have analysed the situation and not allowed hundreds of Phillippinos here. Wait until the racial conflicts start. And they will.

Government has created a major problem and has the responsibility to solve it before taking the country to Independence. And they sent the Portuguese "home''.

2: The one-day garbage collection is responsible for some of the frustration in the Island. Who wants to look forward to a summer with stench and garbage all over the place? And nowhere to store it for a whole week? Bermuda has too many households to have an effective one-day collection. The Government did not do a feasibility study -- as sound business does. It did not check how effective the two-day collection was, with smaller population, under the Health Department -- where it rightfully belongs. A healthy environment is an essential for Bermudians and successful tourism. And what of the increase in the rat population? If the Government is not handling anything simple like garbage collection efficiently, how is it expected to handle the administration of an independent state? 3: Our welfare costs are extremely high for an affluent society -- unless the rich are getting richer and the numbers of poor are increasing. It's more likely due to underemployment of Bermudians and the generous handling of funds that the welfare costs have risen sharply. There are insufficient checks and balances; and insufficient social workers to inspect the home environs of all recipients. There is always the need to appraise all home situations before the taxpayers' money is disbursed. In this way, some economies may be effected in this costly department. Employing more social workers will do two things: Cut down on unnecessary spending for "needy'' persons spending and at the same time provide employment for Bermudians.

With Independence, costs of governing the Country will go up. They did in the Bahamas. Incomes went down. Exempt companies left and tourists stayed away.

Hotels closed down and the Government had to purchase some of the hotels for the purpose of employment for the Bahamians. Bermuda has so much in common with the Bahamas that it will delightfully surprise me if the same does not happen in Bermuda.

My British passport (I am Bermudian-born) has on the inside cover: "The Governor, ... in the name of her Majesty, requests and requires all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.'' I'm sure yours says that also. It also states as my national status: "British: British Dependent Territories Citizen (Bermuda)''. I have a slot in an already established world-recognised organisation! I can travel anywhere with my British passport! And I, like most Bermudians, love to travel. How far will I be able to travel with a Bermuda passport? Maybe this will be stated in one of the promised position papers.

I look on Bermuda as a tragedy about to happen because of the wishes of a few.

If the men of Bermuda cannot appreciate what is happening to Bermuda, I'm sure the women can.

When you go to the polls to vote on the referendum -- if you go -- before you cast your vote, remember: "YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN''.

Mrs. Gloria McPhee (OBE)