A lobby group has described the Premier's delay on a referendum on Independence as "insulting" to the general public.

Michael G. Marsh, organiser of Bermudians for Referendum, said Government should hold a poll in the next six months, rather than "ignoring the will of the people".

He said that to keep raising the issue without a timeline on a public vote only raised feelings of uncertainty, particularly among the international business community.

Bermudians for Referendum polled the electorate in 2006 – 52 percent, or 15,500 voters, signed a petition asking for a referendum to decide the issue rather than a General Election.

At the weekend, Premier Ewart Brown told Bermudian students in the UK that if a referendum was held today, most Bermudians would vote against Independence.

However, he said he remains confident a referendum will eventually support the breaking of ties with Britain, describing Independence as a "natural progression" and hoped to hold one in the near future.

The possibility of a referendum on Independence was raised last year. Dr. Brown's press secretary Glenn Jones identified it as the route the Progressive Labour Party would take to determine whether Bermudians were in favour of Independence.

A few days later the Premier later denied that was Government's plan: "The Press Secretary made a mistake … My party's official position has not changed – that is that we prefer to do it via a General Election."

Yesterday however, Mr. Marsh said: "The polls show the population don't want Independence. Dr. Brown will not have a referendum until he manages to brainwash everyone into thinking it is a good idea.

"But we need to get this out of the way because the spectre of going Independent is hanging over everyone's heads. It makes people more restless, particularly foreign companies.

"We should have a referendum within six months – it should be settled once and for all.

And once it's settled, assuming the vote is against Independence, then there should be a ten-year-moratorium on the issue. "To keep bringing it up creates uncertainty as to which direction the Island is going in."

Mr. Marsh said: "In most countries, Governments are forced to have a referendum within 18 months of a submission of such a petition.

"But Government has seen fit to ignore our petition, even though the signatures exceeded 50 percent of the electorate.

"The people of Bermuda clearly want a referendum to decide the issue but Government has refused to even consider the will of the people.

"I think it's highly insulting. This issue should not be at the dictate of Government. I think it's disgraceful the Premier will not have a referendum.

"When you have a petition as strong as ours and for the Government to ignore it, it's an insult to the will of the people of Bermuda."

Mr. Marsh said personally, he is against Independence. He said tighter travel restrictions and higher costs of a UK education are just some of the reasons why people oppose the cutting of ties with Britain.

"There are an enormous number of negatives to going Independent, especially at a time when the world has an economic crisis facing it," said Mr. Marsh yesterday.

In September an independent survey revealed two-thirds of Bermudians oppose Independence. The summer poll, by Total Research Associates, showed opposition has grown from 51 percent in 1998 to 67 percent this year. The minority in favour however, has also grown – from nine percent to 21 percent in the past ten years.

Independence was first reviewed in a discussion paper presented to the House of Assembly in 1977.

Former UBP Premier Sir John Swan then made a bid to break ties with Britain in 1995, but failed in a public referendum.

Dr. Brown has been a vocal supporter of Independence, but has said he will not put the issue to a vote until he is confident of victory.

Speaking to the Caribbean Media Corporation in Trinidad in March 2007, Dr. Brown said: "You might know that in 1995 there was a referendum in Bermuda that actually failed – people voted against Independence.

"Of course, my Party abstained, but when we go again we will win and we cannot risk the chance that we would lose the vote for Independence.

"Undoubtedly for me, Independence is inevitable. Bermuda will not be isolated in that regard. Our political development says that one day our Country will be politically independent."

The Royal Gazette did not receive a response from the Premier's Press Secretary last night on a timeline on a referendum or comment from Dr. Brown on the benefits of going independent.

However, Sir John Swan said he believed the timing was not right, with the world facing a global recession.

"The way the world is right now, I think people will be focused on trying to survive," said Sir John. "I'm not against a referendum, I think it gives the public a right to choose, but I would hope the public would take a look at it and consider whether now is the right time to look at something like this."

Asked which way he thought Bermudians would vote, Sir John said: "Let's just wait and see. It's all we can do."