Upper House starts Green Paper debate
Government senator said during the first day of the Upper House debate on the Green Paper.
Government Senate leader the Hon. Gerald Simons said there were several recurring questions that arose about Independence.
Bermudians wanted to know whether the Island could assume greater control of its affairs short of Independence.
But he said Bermuda had gone as far as it could go and had a larger measure of self reliance than other countries such as the Bahamas before they became independent.
Sen. Simons said an independent Bermuda would have to deal with external affairs, defence, internal security and the Police and would continue to be a monarchy in the Commonwealth like many former British colonies.
At the moment the Attorney General's chambers was reviewing several old treaties that the British Government had ratified on Bermuda's behalf in areas such as health, human rights, labour and pollution.
Currently, Bermuda operates under the British Register for shipping he said which is restrictive on one hand, although it does have the benefit of British Navy protection for ships in a war.
Sen. Simons said that some people felt Bermuda's interest's were not always served in this area and this would change if the country chose Independence.
Turning to internal security, Sen. Simons said the Bermuda Regiment had improved tremendously since the 1977 riots in its training and personnel and would be capable if put to the test.
He said the current practice of having officers and senior non-commissioned officers from the British Army assisting with training would continue if Bermuda went independent.
Continued tomorrow