Indeed, it is entirely healthy. As we see it, a referendum on Independence is a democratic process which has the advantage of allowing the people to decide their own future. A properly supervised referendum on a major national issue is a very pure form of democracy.

The opposition Progressive Labour Party has suggested another General Election to decide on Independence despite the fact that it did not raise Independence as a major issue during last October's vote. It would be unrealistic to expect any political party with the thin majority the UBP achieved last October to risk another election. In any case, an election would not be restricted to the issue of Independence and a result might well not be at all clear. A referendum is a much more decisive and a much cleaner vote.

But Bermuda must bear in mind that in any referendum, especially one as emotional as Independence, there will be hard feelings over the win or the loss. Some people who feel strongly will be frustrated by the result and angry at the result. However, we will know exactly the will of the people and will have a mandate to proceed to the future as the people choose.

There have been suggestions that an opinion poll would do just as well as an indicator of what the people think and that there are easier ways to determine the will of the people than by a referendum. However, we doubt that the people have total faith in polls and the best and most certain way to let them have a say is to organise a referendum. We do not think that a referendum on Independence should be complicated by placing any other issues on the ballot.

Independence, yes or no, should be the simple issue. We say that because in some countries there is a tendency to ask an array of questions and, while Bermudians might feel strongly about other issues, we would not like to see the Independence ballot confused by other questions. There should never be any suggestion that a decision on Independence was clouded by a complicated ballot.

Once the people have cast their vote, then Bermuda can set about planning its future, whatever the people decide that future should be. As long as there is uncertainty over Independence, then it is hard to plan.

We believe that uncertainty has other disadvantages. People tend to put aside major financial decisions in their lives as long as they are uncertain about their future. As an example, we believe that transactions in the real estate market will be slow as long as decisions on Bermuda's future are pending. Then too, Bermuda's international clients are subject to pressures which have to do with whether or not a country is a stable place to do business. We think that uncertainty over Independence is unlikely to drive away those companies already here who know Bermuda well, but we think any uncertainty is a put-off for companies thinking about coming to Bermuda.

This is a tough time to be facing one more major decision. However, as a result of the bases closing, Independence has been put to the people as important to Bermuda's future and as an issue which the people should decide.

Not deciding Independence, no matter how great the problems, could be doing Bermuda considerable harm. We have a delicate economy and we must do our best to protect Bermuda without depriving the people of the expression of their will. We believe there should be an intense period aimed at informing the people of the pros and cons of Independence followed by a referendum. The referendum must be held while students are home from schools abroad. It would seem that a July or August referendum should be possible.