"Let the people speak,'' said Mr. John Barritt. "And when they have spoken in the referendum on August 15 we will know where the voters stand and where we ought to be standing on the issue.'' Mr. Barritt's comments came on Monday, after Transport Minister the Hon.

Maxwell Burgess was quoted as saying the referendum represented a choice between which style of Independence Bermudians wanted -- the United Bermuda Party's, or the Progressive Labour Party's.

"The people will decide that when they come out and vote'' for or against Independence, and "the parties will take their cue'', he said. "We've got to wait for the result.

"It's been my understanding that this whole exercise is pitched at finding out the people's will and responding accordingly,'' he said. "I expect that will be as true for the PLP as it is for the UBP.'' Mr. Barritt said he felt the "silent majority'' of Bermudians had "gone to ground'' on the question of Independence, he said.

"They've either made up their minds or they've heard enough of the debate and don't want to get caught in the crossfire.'' Mr. Barritt said when he weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of Independence, the disadvantages formed a longer list, and he planned to vote against.

He felt most Bermudians were unconvinced of the advantages of Independence and would vote "no''.

The PLP's call for supporters to abstain only applied to those who would otherwise vote in favour of Independence, Mr. Barritt said.

"Clearly, if you're against, there's no need to heed their call to abstain.''