The sudden emergence of Independence as an issue in Bermuda created some surprise among members of the United Nations Decolonisation Committee, its secretary said yesterday.

Mr. Nour Driss said the committee discussed Government's Independence referendum initiative again yesterday and members were "a little surprised.'' "It is the Premier and the Government more or less in favour and the Opposition is against, which used to be the other way around,'' Mr. Driss said. "That confuses them a bit.'' While the Opposition Progressive Labour Party has opposed Government's plan for a referendum on Independence, the party maintains its position in favour of Independence has never changed.

Mr. Driss said the emergence of Independence as an issue should not really be seen as a surprise, since Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan has long favoured it.

A referendum was one good way to decide on self-determination, though a general election, as favoured by the PLP, could work as well, he said.

The options in a general election could be "very limited,'' Mr. Driss said.

He has also been critical of the proposed question for Bermuda's Independence referendum as too simplistic.

The committee is to make a recommendation to the UN General Assembly in July, likely a motion to "take note'' of the Independence debate in Bermuda.