A supporter of Bermudians for Referendum has called for the Premier to be more transparent on discussions over Independence.

Pat Ferguson, an ardent supporter of the advocacy group, raised her concerns after Premier Ewart Brown appeared to visit the Independence topic in the House of Assembly. Dr. Brown read out a statement which celebrated the 40th anniversary of democracy in Bermuda and called on the Island to re-evaluate where it was.

The Premier said: "I am a servant of the people and it is the people of Bermuda who will direct when and how we achieve nationhood."

"My hope is that in schools and barber shops, in restaurants and parks that the people of this country will not only celebrate this 40th anniversary of universal adult suffrage for Bermuda but will ask themselves a series of questions. Have we fulfilled the potential of those tense, electric and historic days? Have we allowed economic pursuits to relegate natural democratic progress?

"Have we yielded the admonition of those we now term as heroes of this land that we not be afraid to stand on our own two feet? Have we surrendered to the Quo fata ferunt mindset?"

But Ms Ferguson said he could hardly be for the people if he continues to advocate for a general election and the Government refused to accept the will of more than 15,000 Bermudians. She said: "Dr. Brown states that he is a 'servant of the people' and it is the people of Bermuda who will direct when, and how, we achieve nationhood. What people is he talking about?

"He certainly is not talking about the 15,523 Bermudian registered voters who signed the petition for a Referendum on Independence that has been so rudely overlooked.

"More than two years ago, Bermudians for Referendum presented the former Premier Alex Scott with a petition signed by 15,523 audited, registered voters, only to have him say these petitioners did not know what they were signing and to me, that was a slap in the face and grossly insulting."

Premier Brown, though he has not made his own views clear, would also appear to support a general election rather than a referendum.

In the run-up to the election he clarified a pro-referendum statement made by his press secretary Glenn Jones, saying the PLP's position is that a general election would decide.

On Friday, during his statement to the House, the Premier made no mention of how the decision would be made.

Ms Ferguson said the Premier wouldn't make that clear because he feared a referendum would prove the issue was unpopular. She added: "I honestly believe the Premier is afraid to hold a Referendum on Independence because he knows that the majority of the people do not want it.

"The PLP call themselves the 'people's party', well why don't they prove it by letting the people vote in a Referendum on the issue of Independence."