to us that he has relatively little understanding of the actual situation and, we suspect, that may be true of other Cabinet ministers. Some Ministers are so blinded by their own Independence agenda that they are ignoring the wishes of the electorate. But more than that, they have very little understanding of the wishes of those people who keep the United Bermuda Party in power.

Mr. Furbert has tried to convince everyone that a majority of the people are out of step. A majority of the people in a democracy is the step. The fact is that a small number of very determined politicians are marching in a direction the people do not want them to go and loudly laying blame on the people. It is a weird situation but Mr. Furbert, a UBP Cabinet Minister, seems to have identified the enemy as the supporters of the UBP.

Mr. Furbert: "Certain individuals within the UBP and its supporters are attacking the Premier. They say if the referendum is a strong `no' he should resign, but the decision to have a vote was taken by the Cabinet.'' Mr. Furbert says that the Cabinet supported a referendum but the public knows that the entire Cabinet did not support Independence and that the divisions led to one Cabinet resignation and to a number of very unhappy Cabinet Ministers who openly state their opposition, like the Hon. Clarence Terceira and the Hon. C. V. (Jim) Woolridge.

The Bermudian public is not dumb. Mr. Furbert says people should not attack the Premier because Cabinet made the referendum decision. But the public knows the initiative came from the Premier and that the Premier has made Independence a personal crusade. The Premier did not have to do that. He could, and probably should, have simply offered Independence to the people as an alternative to be considered and left it at that. But no, the Premier and some of his Cabinet made Independence a personal crusade against the wishes of their own supporters. Anyone who opposed Independence was demeaned and attacked even by the Premier who should have stayed above the fray so, naturally, those who were demeaned and attacked began to return fire. When a politician makes an issue into something personal, then that politician will naturally be attacked personally.

We agree entirely with Mr. Furbert that Sir John Swan has made an enormous contribution to Bermuda. The list of his accomplishments is both long and distinguished. He was the politician who could reach a consensus among Bermudians. He has had great popularity and great support and has been able to continue his party in power.

Because of that it is even more puzzling that toward the end of a long and very positive career Sir John Swan would choose to divide the people with an issue which was well known to be political poison, would damage the Country's image, cause political instability, alienate his own followers, and harm his own high reputation.