in 1971 when Britain ended the right of free movement to the UK from Dependent Territories. Bermudians without the right of abode in the UK have been humiliated when visiting the mother country by being directed into the special Dependent Territories immigration line for unique attention when they know that Bermuda is not economically dependent on Britain and that the average Bermudian enjoys a higher standard of living than the average Briton.

This policy probably spurred on the smaller Caribbean islands in the Commonwealth of Antigua, Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, St. Kitts and Nevis, who had not yet followed the lead of Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica, to be independent, and encouraged many in Bermuda to promote Independence. Bermudians enjoyed special rights to visit the US without visas since 1940 as a result of the agreement between Britain and the US to establish US bases in Bermuda and elsewhere in exchange for destroyers during the Second World War. This privilege which most Bermudians thoroughly utilise blunted the effects of the 1971 restrictive policy on visits to the UK.

It was probably not foreseen in the '70s that the population of the Dependent Territories would be reduced in numbers by declared Independences and the termination of the Hong Kong lease agreeement in 1997 to such an extent that Britain today would be comfortable in making the proposals of citizenship in the White Paper. Grants of UK citizenship were given to the citizens of Gibraltar and Falkland Islands, suggesting that such granting was a matter of numbers and genealogy. The granting of UK citizenship to Bermudians will put more meaning in the National Anthem when they can visit the UK and the countries of the European Union as first class citizens.

It is noted that the constitutional status of Bermuda precludes satisfying the several listed contingent caveats by an Order-in-Council. They can only be effected either by an Act of the Bermuda Parliament or an Act of the British Parliament. The White Paper only threatens an Act of the British Parliament in respect of the abolition of the death penalty. The new PLP Government would likely support both the abolition of the death penalty and corporal punishment and could, if it wishes, enact the appropriate local legislation with or without a referendum on either subject.

Other matters relating to the regulation of financial services and tax issues require investigation and study to determine precisely what Britain wants Bermuda to regulate or enact. The timetable for this determination is vague and uncertain, and seems likely to drag on for a number of years judging from the rate of progress on these matters to date. It seems rather remote that Britain and Bermuda will soon reach an impasse which can then only be resolved by a threatened or real Act of the British Parliament or a choice of Independence by Bermuda. By that time it is likely that a great many Bermudians who love to travel would have enjoyed the fruits of British citizenship and will refuse to give it up. A referendum for Independence would likely fail again. "God save the Queen'' and "quo fata ferunt''.

*** Dr. James is a former deputy premier and finance minister. He was United Bermuda Party MP for Pembroke West Central from 1968 to 1989.