Hon. Sir John Swan took the Island to Independence.

The allegation was made by Opposition leader Mr. Frederick Wade as MPs yesterday discussed Government's Independence position papers.

Mr. Wade said the current "unfair'' electoral system would be firmly rooted in the new constitution -- should Sir John have his way.

Any constitutional changes post-Independence would be extremely hard to achieve, he warned MPs.

It would need three-quarters of the members of the House of Assembly and the Senate to vote "yes'' to change the constitution.

And then the proposed amendment would have to go to a referendum.

Mr. Wade also ripped into the position papers, saying they did not reflect Government policy.

"What are these papers for? They are useless and worthless and take us nowhere.'' He added: "I don't know why we should take time discussing them. We should do something useful.'' Earlier, Deputy Premier and Labour Minister the Hon. John Irving Pearman introduced the papers, hailing them as a springboard for discussion.

He said Government had been convinced bringing the papers to the House was essential as a means of educating people on Independence.

The papers reflected the view of Government -- and represented the stand it would take at a constitutional conference.

But, stressed Mr. Pearman, the papers were subject to review and possible change.

"They are not cast in stone ... this is the position Government is taking at this time.'' Mr. Pearman said the average person wanted more information on Independence.

And he believed the majority of people hadn't yet made up their minds on the issue.

Mr. Pearman then took MPs through the 39-page document outlining Government's positions in an independent Bermuda.

He immediately took a pot-shot at Mr. Wade for constantly making out that Sir John would decide the kind of constitution Bermuda would have if it went independent.

The constitution would be decided at a tripartite conference, featuring the United Bermuda Party Government, the Opposition Progressive Labour Party and the British Government.

There would be room for discussion and compromises so an agreement could be reached.

Mr. Pearman outlined the three-fold purpose of the position papers: to spell out Government's stance in an independent Bermuda; to help voters come to a decision in the August 15 referendum; and to stimulate debate.

Among the highlights of the position papers are: A Governor-General would be appointed by the Queen on advice of the Prime Minister, after consultation with Opposition Leader; The two Houses of Parliament would remain essentially unchanged. The 11-member Senate would be appointed by the Governor-General, with five members named on the advice of the Prime Minister, three on the advice of the Opposition Leader, and three at his own discretion after consultation with both leaders; Voting constituencies would continue to be set within existing parish boundaries, with a Boundaries Commission to adjust constituencies within those boundaries; Government would ask the United Kingdom to review Bermuda's internal security and defence capabilities, to see if more resources were needed; Bermuda would seek a friendship treaty with either the UK, United States, or Canada; Citizenship, the judiciary, appeals to the Privy Council, and procedures for reviewing constituency boundaries would be among items "specially entrenched'' in the Constitution, meaning a three-quarters vote of both houses of Parliament and a majority vote in a referendum would be required to change them; All holders of Bermuda status, by birth or grant, would automatically acquire Bermudian citizenship; Those resident in Bermuda for at least 20 years before Independence Day could apply for citizenship, provided they had been of good conduct and character for at least the last ten years; Eligible long-term residents would have one year to apply for citizenship; Dual nationality would be permitted; Certificates of residence could be granted for those who live in Bermuda permanently or have vacation homes on the Island; A Judicial and Legal Service Commission and a Police Service Commission would be added to the Public Service Commission, with provisions to help prevent against political interference in the making of appointments; and Bermuda would remain in the Commonwealth with the Queen as head of state.

On the question of constituency boundaries, Mr. Pearman told the Opposition that it was up for discussion.

"We are saying we have an open mind on the subject.'' And as for defence, Mr. Pearman said he was satisfied Bermuda should be capable of defending itself.

It was important, however, for the Island to manage its political and social affairs in a way which did not lead to unrest.

In conclusion, Mr. Pearman said of Government's role in the Independence debate: "It is our responsibility to be fair, to be honest and put the facts out.

"How this subject got on the agenda is now academic.'', Mr. Wade delivered a withering response, saying: "Government almost leaves me speechless. I have just heard Mr. Pearman admit clearly and concisely that this is not policy we are discussing.

"It is subject to review, the jury is still out, and no decision has been made.

"The Government's attitude is `don't take us at our word on this'.'' He added: "I don't know why we are here if the members of the public cannot rely on this to make a decision. What are these papers for?'' Mr. Wade said the president of the Chamber of Commerce was even critical of the papers.

"These papers are full of woolly thinking, rushed ideas and incomplete idea.'' Mr. Wade scoffed at the word "compendium'', saying it was a Government attempt to make the papers appear important.

He also said the papers contained errors, such as the assertion Bermuda's Constitution was supreme.

This was not true, and the constitution could not be equated with the American one.

"Bermuda's Constitution is just another law,'' he said.

Mr. Wade went on to defy Government to find fault with the PLP's recommendation for single-seat constituencies.

The Opposition's proposed electoral reform would lead to one man-one vote, and one vote of equal value -- the essence of democracy.

On citizenship, Mr. Wade said the position taken in papers was discriminatory against Bermudian fathers and children born out of wedlock.

And he attacked the proposed mechanism for removing a Governor General from office in an independent Bermuda.

The plan was for the new Prime Minister, after consulting with the Opposition leader, to appoint a tribunal comprising Commonwealth judges.

The Prime Minister would then have to accept the recommendation of the tribunal and advise the Queen.

To Mr. Wade this proposal was laughable, since it gave powers to a "foreign nebulous body''.

Mr. Wade said he found Government's position on External Affairs "curious'' because the $1.3 million dollars they had allocated to manage foreign affairs did not take into account the full story.

"We know we will need at least one body or some bodies for the United Nations,'' he said.

And there would also be additional costs which were outside of the United Nations such as overseas missions in places such as New York and London.

"These costs should be put forward. It is not forthright to come up with a figure of $1.3 million without considering these things.'' Mr. Wade said there was "no magic or mystery'' to overseas offices because there were already institutions within Bermuda with substantial overseas expertise and these institutions should be tapped.

Furthermore, Mr. Wade said that many Bermudians had the distinction of acting as honorary councils for other countries and served in theses capacities with "pride and satisfaction.'' As an example Mr. Wade pointed to Mrs. Lois Browne Evans who served as honorary council for Jamaica.

"We are not pioneers,'' he continued. "This is no big thing. There's no magic or mystery. If we apply ourselves to the job it can be done.'' The Opposition leader said that one fact in Bermuda's favour was its careful spending.

"We don't have the proliferation of ministerial homes as in other places. We have maintained a level-headedness in this area when it comes to perks and comforts.'' When it comes to treaties, Mr. Wade said the British Government would not force Bermuda to adopt any of them.

Consequently, the prudent thing would be to study them closely to see which ones are of continued benefit to Bermuda.

"We must learn as a country to act in our own best self interest. The first and only priority is to your own self interest.'' Mr. Wade said that while he agreed that it was necessary to entrench certain things into a new Independence constitution, it was also important that Bermudians who have been kept out of the system, are included.

If they are neglected, he said, this would be to the nation's undoing. As a result, the new constitution should make provisions for an honest electoral system and a fair playing field.

Mr. Wade said 30 single seat constituencies would go along way to ensuring electoral fairness in the system because it would make sure that there were no guarantees for anyone.

"We have to make the Country socially correct so that people feel a part of it whether they are from Parsons Road or Fairylands, black or white, young or old.

"Our problems are partly the fault of our electoral system. No where else could a Government ignore 6,000 voters. That means the voting system is so secure for them that they could ignore 6,000 voters.

Mr. Wade then reiterated his party's call for voters to abstain. If they felt the urge to vote during the August 15 referendum he said they should vote no, or spoil their ballot.

Meantime Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess (UBP) said he could not believe that the leader of the Opposition had so little faith in Bermudians.

He said he did not share this view. Since there were more than 37,000 voters registered, he said Government chose to focus on the 31,000 voters who did not sign the PLP's petition.

Mr. Burgess said the issue of Independence was really a social contract and he agreed with the PLP that every attempt should be made to get it right the first time.

"That is why we put the Government's position out to the public and we are prepared to change whenever there is something that is in the best interest of Bermuda.

"Let's not start the old fashioned way. We are prepared to embrace good positions if they will work for the greater good.'' Mr. Burgess said he did not subscribe to the PLP's idea of 30 single seat constituencies because it would lead to "a further concentration of power''.

The Transport Minister said that the individuals who drew up the Island's parish boundaries were not running for political office when they were drawn up.

But if they were dispensed with, then"accusations of gerrymandering would be the order of the day.'' Mr. Burgess said Bermuda would be better served if they stuck to the current parish boundaries because there was scope for compromise on both sides.

Mr. Burgess clarified his position on Independence by stating he would be voting yes in August adding he hoped all Bermudians would respectful of the position of each other.

Independence, he said, meant the Island could negotiate its own flights with the United States and do away with the notion of reciprocity with the United Kingdom. He added aircraft and shipping registry standards would remain high post-Independence. While some ships might leave, others might join instead.

Negotiations with British Airways would continue post-Independence, he said.

Independence was a "very complex issue'', said Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness .

While the success of Bermuda was built "on the backs of Bermudians'', he said the most prestigious awards still came from the British monarchy. Instead he suggested, awards for Bermudians should be made on Bermuda Day.

The constitution would continue to be the supreme law of the land and selection of the judiciary would continue to be out of Government's hands.

On citizenship, Mr. Edness said Independence could leave some people stateless but that the Government paper gave detailed information on the issue. He added the Nationality Act was an important piece of legislation and had no "negative aroma''. He added that a Governor General should come from the vast pool of the Commonwealth jurisdiction.

Mr. Edness claimed the UBP was unanimous as far as the position papers on Independence were concerned. But he added he would like to see another that sang the praises of Independence.

On the PLP's decision to advise party members to abstain from voting in the referendum, Mr. Edness said it was more honourable to disagree with the way Government was approaching the matter than to tell people not to vote.

"If you don't support it vote against it,'' he said. "Staying away is to lose by default. They (the PLP) should tell people to go out and vote what they feel.'' If the vote went the wrong way, people who had abstained would feel cheated, he said.

He added the PLP was in a quandary because they only wanted to achieve Independence their way.

"Is that the way to represent your constituents?'' he asked.

On the voting system, Mr. Edness said the UBP believed in the parish boundaries and challenged the PLP to publish their position on the issue.

He said being pro-Independence was not a question of bashing Britain. White and black Bermudians had different perspectives on the issue and as a black Bermudian Mr. Edness said he could only speak from his perspective.

His views on Independence, he admitted, were emotional and were derived from the effects of slavery on himself and his ancestors.

But with Independence he saw a new partnership between the races and an opportunity to get rid of the "racial debt'' black people felt.

"Nationship will improve our relationship,'' he said.

In the 1960s the British effectively ran Bermuda siding with the privileged classes. "These are the things that people remember,'' Mr. Edness said.

Now the silent signal coming from Britain, he said, was to "get on with it''.

In recent years, Bermuda has come into conflict with Britain over the question of imposing sanctions on apartheid South Africa and Bermuda's non-inclusion in the 1989 Financial Services Act.

Mr. Edness said the Island had to move to nationhood to protect itself.

Britain, he added, had not assisted Bermuda in decades.

"We can't allow people to believe we're successful because of Britain,'' he said.

Finally, he said, he agreed with Mr. Wade's philosophy that Bermuda should have a constitution which made all Bermudians equal. A new constitution at the beginning of a new century would help Bermudians move forward together.

Continued in Monday's newspaper.