yesterday.

Independent and Opposition senators put on hold legislation to launch a referendum.

They agreed the House of Assembly should first debate a PLP motion on a Commission of Inquiry.

The move was triggered by Independent Senator Alf Oughton.

And it has plunged into doubt when senators will resume debating the Independence Referendum Act 1994.

It appeared to hand the initiative to the Progressive Labour Party.

PLP leader Mr. Frederick Wade's motion on the Commission of Inquiry is already on the order paper of the House of Assembly.

But MPs' time has been taken up with considering the Budget.

The Budget debate is due to end on Monday. And the House is expected to rise afterwards for the Easter break.

It is uncertain when MPs will get round to debating Mr. Wade's motion, which calls for the House of Assembly to reject a Commission of Inquiry.

Some Government members fear Mr. Wade could stall moves towards a referendum by delaying discussion of his motion.

Yesterday Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan declined to comment.

Mr. Wade said he had the choice of a late-night discussion of his motion during the Budget debate.

But he was not prepared to take up this option.

Alternatively, his motion could be considered after the House sits again in May.

"I have been lobbying the Premier for an extra sitting of the House on March 11, which would give time for my motion to be discussed.

"But so far I've had no success. I've been rebuffed each time.'' Mr. Wade said he had no interest in delaying tactics.

"I was surprised and somewhat pleased that somebody somewhere thought what we were doing in the House had some value.

"I was very pleased that the Senate appreciated the importance of my motion.'' The man who triggered yesterday's developments was Sen. Oughton.

During debate on the Independence legislation he presented a surprise motion.

It read: "This Senate Chamber defer any decision on the Independence Referendum Act until after the outcome and result of the debate on the Commission of Inquiry in the House of Assembly.'' Government senators claimed Sen. Oughton's motion was out of order.

They argued only the senator putting forward the bill should be able to present a motion.

Sen. Grant Gibbons warned of the risk of sending legislation into "limbo''.

It would set a very bad precedent, he said. But Senate president the Hon.

Albert Jackson (Ind) allowed the motion be put to the vote.

He and Independent Senator Norma Astwood voted with Sen. Oughton.

They were joined by PLP senators Milton Scott, Terry Lister and Neletha Butterfield.

Together they outvoted Government 6-5.

Later Sen. Oughton told The Royal Gazette of the thinking behind his motion.

He said the Commission of Inquiry was an "integral part'' of the Independence Referendum Act.

The Commission would be looking into the pros and cons of Independence.

"I think the Commission and Independence Referendum Act should be considered hand in hand.'' Sen. Oughton said Government had chosen the Commission as the way to educate Bermudians on Independence.

But what would happen if MPs backed Mr. Wade's motion and threw out the Commission? "Then there would be no vehicle to educate Bermudians. I believe the populace should know how they will be educated.'' Sen. Lawrence Scott (UBP) accepted his side had been outmanoeuvred.

He said it was unclear where the Independence legislation now stood.

Sen. Scott added he had been taken by surprise by Sen. Oughton's motion, although he had had "an inkling something might be up''.

He had seen Sen. Oughton have discreet discussions with the Opposition.

Sen. Oughton denied he had been in collusion with the PLP.

"I was taking an independent stance. It is purely in the interests of educating the populace.'' He added: "Naturally I was pleased to have the support of the PLP in voting through my motion.'' Sen. Oughton, who stressed he supported a referendum, accepted his move could delay the Independence legislation.

Government Senate leader the Hon. Gerald Simons said his side would have to regroup.

The implications of the Senate vote would have to be considered.

Sen. Simons believed there was no force in Sen. Oughton's reasons for his motion.

Earlier, Sen. Simons introduced the Independence Referendum Act to the Senate for the second reading.

He said there had been massive changes in the world.

On the economic front, the North America Free Trade Agreement had been signed, and new countries were joining the European Community.

With the creation of new trading blocks now was the time for Bermuda to reassess and consider Independence, said Sen. Simons.

He added a green paper and white paper had been produced in the 70s on Independence.

But these needed to be updated.

The public had a right to know about what would happen if they chose Independence, to remaining a dependent territory.