Cabinet is considering alternatives to conscription, said Premier Ewart Brown yesterday but he gave little clue about details.

Earlier this month an influential group of British MPs recommended the phasing out of conscription in a report on Britain's overseas territories.

Speaking from London yesterday, where he is meeting political leaders from Britain and the Caribbean, the Premier said the conscription issue was being looked at by his Government.

He told The Royal Gazette: "Cabinet already has something we will consider shortly. It is ready for us to discuss, a possible alternative to conscription. When we have finished that discussion we will let the public know."

Pressed on the details, he said: "I don't want to prejudice the discussion. Whatever it is, it will be something fair and equitable."

The Premier is attending, as an observer, the United Kingdom-Caribbean Forum in London this week which is the main vehicle for dialogue between Whitehall and the Foreign Ministers of the Caribbean Commonwealth countries.

The agenda in London includes discussions on security, economic development and sustainable development.

The Premier said the forum had discussed sustainable development and climate change and had heard a powerful presentation from Dr. Leonard Nurse, from the University of the West Indies, who stressed the importance of preserving the reef system.

Dr. Brown said: "We are mainly worried about the rising sea levels and the consequent destruction of beaches which is a very important element for us. He said we should do everything we can to prevent damage to our reef system."

The Premier said coastal survey experts had recommended sea walls, particularly on the South Shore, when they surveyed Bermuda several years ago.

Probed on cost, the Premier said: "This would be an individual private citizens approach we would take first to encourage people to protect their own property with sea walls."

Some people fear rising sea levels could eventually affect the relatively low lying Airport.

Dr. Brown said: "We have a sea wall in place of the immediate future. But in the long term we are hoping to move the terminal to a position of higher ground.

"There are ways to elevate it and reduce the exposure to rising sea levels, we have had a master plan done. I would like to see us get started within the next few years."

Dr. Brown said he had a chat with Overseas Territories Minister Meg Munn who invited Bermuda to send someone to the UK's ruling Labour Party's annual conference in September.

"There will be a delegation. Whether I come is still up for grabs. We talked about why the Governor and I get along so well at the moment. We talked about general political issues, she was giving me some hints about how to communicate effectively in my constituency as she does.

"We stayed away from any of the issues considered hot button issues in Bermuda.

"It's been of balanced benefit with the conversations I have had with Meg Munn and (Foreign Secretary) Milliband and the FCO people."

Asked about Independence, the Premier pointed out it was not on the agenda at the Forum.

But he added: "The public have a right to know that the Progressive Labour Party continues to keep Independence on the stove — it's always been there, it's never been taken off.

"We won't take it to the public until we are sure of a resounding victory."

Asked about the Foreign Affairs Committee report which also called for the outlawing of sexual orientation discrimination and a review of the rights of long-term residents, Dr. Brown said the report still has to go to the UK Parliament.

"Whatever comes out as a Government recommendation is what we have to be concerned about. I am not deeply concerned by any of it."