But Bermudians did not mince words when it came to the question of independence.

And a Royal Gazette street poll revealed that most Bermudians were wary of making any decision on the issue until a full presentation was made by Government.

Ms Margaret Iris compared telling Bermudians to consider independence to telling a teenager to "go have a baby''.

"This country is too small,'' she said. "Too much is flown in. We are not ready. We are already stressed out enough.'' Union official Mr. Kenyatta Young said, "I've been for independence all my life. We should be free. I don't see why we should be a colony.'' Could Bermuda afford to go independent? Many raised that question as they considered the implications of cutting ties with Great Britain.

"Bermuda's level of life and the standard its people live in will be affected. Everything will be dismantled,'' Mr. Eric Peets said. "It will break up Bermuda and cause tensions to grow.'' Mr. Karvell Durham disagreed: "I think we can make it on our own. We should be living off the land. A lot of Bermudians have talent but can't do anything with it because we're not independent.'' Mr. Mark Wood could not see any good reasons for independence. And he did not feel the "psychological hang-up'' that some felt of not being independent.

"I think it will be too expensive,'' he added.

Miss Debria Smith and Mrs. Beatrice Brookes agreed with him.

"I don't think we can afford it,'' Miss Smith said. "We have no manufactured goods. The US bases have pulled out ...'' "I think the cost to the Island will be exorbitant,'' Mrs. Brookes said. Mr.

Anthony Thompson differed, saying Britain had stuck Bermuda for a bill for the 1970s riots. "Bermuda is a self governing country and has done well all these years,'' he pointed out.

Ms Winifred Simmons said: "I believe as a nation we need to be able to call ourselves Bermuda and stop being a colony -- basically decide our own destiny.'' Miss Flora Peterich said: "We don't get much from the English people and we are actually quite independent anyway.'' Mrs. Valerie Hunt was "ready for change'', saying she felt independence would improve the quality of life for Bermudians.

Mr. Graham Lobb said he was undecided. "I want to know more about it,'' he said. "So much is happening with the bases closing, NAFTA and the European economy. A lot of things are going on behind the scenes which we have not been presented with.'' Mr. Terry Spencer said independence should only be considered after all the facts were presented to residents. "I'd like more details on what it would mean and its disadvantages and advantages.

"If it benefits the Island it might be a good thing.'' Mr. Malcolm Ming said he would be against going it alone until people became "independent minded''.

"We need to mature as a country. There's no sense in going independent when we are not independent minded,'' he said. "We need education. We need to be taught to be that way. Once we walk with the attitude, then we can consider it.'' Ms Margaret Iris Mr. Kenyatta Young Mr. Eric Peets Mrs. Beatrice Brookes Mr.

Anthony Thompson Miss Flora Peterich.