says he declined an invitation to be featured in Government's $100,000 advertising campaign.

"I felt that by innuendo or by inference it would appear that I was supporting Independence,'' Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira said yesterday.

Before the August 15 referendum, "I will probably be appearing in ads that say to the public -- `Vote no','' Dr. Terceira said.

He declined to say who would be paying for those ads. "You'll have to wait and see,'' he said.

Officially, the governing United Bermuda Party has no position for or against Independence.

Dr. Terceira was the only Minister on the five-member Independence Cabinet committee not to appear on recent television ads which have been criticised for a perceived pro-Independence slant.

Earlier, The Royal Gazette quoted a Government spokesman as saying Dr.

Terceira's schedule had not allowed him time to take part in the ads. Dr.

Terceira, just returned from a trip to Canada, said he did initially cite his busy schedule. But the main reason was that he was uncomfortable about what he might be expected to say.

He only wanted to appear if he had "free rein'' to say what he wished, he said.