Three Cabinet Ministers have said they will join Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan in resigning if the August 15 Independence referendum results in a `no' vote.

They are Deputy Premier the Hon. Irving Pearman, Transport Minister the Hon.

Maxwell Burgess, and Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness.

However, the Ministers conceded that under Bermuda's Constitution, their Cabinet seats would be vacated in any case if the Premier should resign.

Section 59(4)(b) of The Bermuda Constitution Order states: "The office of any Minister other than the Premier shall become vacant whenever the office of the Premier becomes vacant.'' Sir John said on Monday that if Bermudians do not vote `yes' to Independence on August 15, he will immediately resign as party leader and resign as Premier as soon as a successor is chosen.

Of the three Cabinet Ministers who say they will join him, only Mr. Burgess said he would rule himself out as Sir John's successor and would move to the back bench for the life of the current Parliament.

Neither Mr. Pearman nor Mr. Edness would rule themselves out as successors to Sir John, and Mr. Edness would not rule out returning to the Cabinet of Sir John's successor.

Mr. Pearman said he might not wait until August 15 to resign.

In rejecting accusations of blackmail, Mr. Burgess said "financial blackmail'' was being waged by those who said a `no' vote was required if construction projects in Bermuda were to get under way.

"I don't know that they do the owners of these products justice by engaging in financial blackmail tactics,'' he said. "The public will see them for what they are.

"Who are the real blackmailers?''