into Independence.

Yesterday's threat of "noncooperation'' came from Opposition leader Mr.

Frederick Wade.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan immediately declared: "It is Mr. Wade's prerogative not to cooperate. We live in a democracy and a free society.

"It would, however, be most unfortunate if he chose to do so.'' The Commission's seven members will be named by Governor Lord Waddington after talking with party leaders.

With two of the appointments, he will consult with Mr. Wade alone.

But yesterday Mr. Wade said the Opposition may refuse to put forward any names.

"In effect, as it stands we don't have the chance to make any appointments.

Government has loaded the deck against us,'' he said.

Mr. Wade also voiced outrage that the House of Assembly could not debate setting up the Commission.

He accused Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan and his Cabinet of "imposing'' the Commission on Bermuda.

"It is really a Cabinet decree.'' Sir John, however, said the Commission could be debated by MPs at the same time as the Referendum Bill, which was tabled on Friday.

"The bill includes reference to the Commission,'' he said.

The PLP will discuss its next move at a meeting of the central committee tonight.

It will also be considered at the party's caucus meeting on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, both parties came under fire yesterday from the Committee for the Independence of Bermuda.

Committee spokesman Mr. Walton Brown Jr. attacked Cabinet for failing to present the case for Independence or saying why it was in Bermuda's best interests.

He also blasted the PLP for opposing Independence moves because a UBP Government was advancing them.

Mr. Brown added Mr. Wade expressed contradictory views on the issue.

"Clearly both parties continue to play political football on this important national issue,'' he said.

Government announced plans for a Commission and a Referendum on Independence at the House of Assembly on Friday.

The Premier said the Commission would have six months to report on the arguments for and against Independence.

And a referendum would be held within 120 days of the Commission report being sent to the Governor.

Sir John told MPs a body appointed by Lord Waddington was the correct way to start educating Bermudians about Independence.

Yesterday Mr. Wade said the Opposition would meet to hammer out its next move.

"We have to discuss what our options are -- one of them is not to cooperate with the Commission.'' Mr. Wade said Government had no mandate to press ahead with a Commission.

"It was not part of the election, and it is not being done by Parliament,'' he stressed.

"It is very unpalatable and something I find disturbing.'' Mr. Wade claimed Government had a very bad track record in giving the Opposition a voice on official bodies and commissions.

For example, the PLP had been shut out of the Fisheries' Commission -- formed in 1991 to investigate Bermuda's marine resources following the controversial fish pot ban.

Mr. Wade went on to brush aside the Independence Committee's attack. He labelled the committee"naive'', adding: "It does not understand the process.'' The PLP, he said, wanted a green paper -- a discussion document on Independence -- before letting Bermudians decide through an election.

But Sir John said the whole point of the Commission was to give Bermudians a choice over going Independent.

"It will provide information for people about the question of Independence.

It will help people decide where we are, and where we need to be going.'' Sir John said it was clear Government and the PLP differed over the route to be taken on Independence.

The PLP favoured an election -- Government a referendum.

"Mr. Wade is included in the process of appointing a Commission,'' he said.

Sir John described as a "nonsense'' Mr. Wade's claim that calling on the Governor to set up a Commission was like "asking the slave master to investigate slavery''.