Moves are under way to bring Bermuda's two parties together on the Independence issue.

The Committee for the Independence of Bermuda is meeting with political leaders in a bid to heal deep divisions on Independence.

Said committee chairman Mr. Walton Brown: "The whole issue as we see it has become overly complicated and overly divisive.'' He added the committee wanted to find "areas of commonality'' between the United Bermuda Party and the Opposition Progressive Labour Party.

"I don't buy into the argument that there are irreconcilable differences.'' On Thursday afternoon, the committee was due to meet Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan.

And a meeting next week was also being set up with Opposition leader Mr.

Frederick Wade.

Mr. Brown said the committee would then stage a Press conference to announce its strategy over the coming Independence referendum.

"I don't want to say anything until we've had the talks with the party's leaders.'' The referendum, which was approved by the Senate recently, is likely to be held in July or August.

The legislation stipulates that a full 40 percent of all eligible voters must vote for the referendum to be valid.

A simple majority would then resolve the issue.

Following the Senate's approval, the PLP, which believes the Independence issue should be decided by a general election, called for a boycott of the referendum.

The PLP won 46 percent of votes cast in the 1993 general election. And while the UBP has no position on Independence, the Opposition officially favours it.

So if PLP supporters heeded the boycott call, any chance of a yes vote would be doomed.

UBP executive officer Mr. Oliver Bain described the PLP stance as "morally wrong.'' And Mr. Brown said the boycott call left little prospect of a successful referendum.