Bishop Vernon Lambe will head the 14-strong Bermuda Independence Commission (BIC), which met for the first time yesterday at Camden House.

As for the Opposition's refusal to participate on the BIC, Premier Alex Scott stated yesterday: “We honestly regret that.”

The job of the BIC is not to persuade but to educate Bermudians on sovereignty, the Premier said at a Press conference at Camden introducing members of the BIC.

The BIC will administer itself from now on, he added, calling its own Press conferences and setting its own deadlines. “This is the last time you will see myself as a representative of Government with this group,” he said, adding, he did not want the BIC “to be drawn into political intrigue”.

“We will be functioning as an independent body on behalf of the country,” Bishop Lambe added.

The members were never asked if they were in favour of Independence or not, the Premier said.

“That wasn't important.”

Though certain members - such as political activist Rolffe Commissiong - do have strong and public views on the issue, Mr. Scott said he “felt sorry” for anyone who thought they could persuade all 13 other members of the BIC, describing them all as independent thinkers.

What was important was that each member was “capable, accomplished and successful”, but all successful in different areas of the community.

“The intent is to provide a framework for a discussion on Independence in all its forms that is acceptable to Mr. and Mrs. Bermuda - male/female, white/black, businessman/grass-roots, young and not-so-young.

“The BIC will explore the subject ... and present it to us in a way that each of us, no matter what our background, can understand.

“They will have access to the expertise and information that is necessary to educate the public and lead an informed discussion.”

Member Dame Lois Browne-Evans will act as a constitutional advisor to the BIC, and senior civil servant and lawyer Philip Perinchief will remain as a liaison between the Commission and Government - but will have no part in the decision-making process, the Premier said.

Once the group finishes gathering information they will present their report to Parliament and Government will write a Green Paper, he said. “Then the debate really begins - and Bermudians can follow along with that debate in an informed way.”