than a person's vote. Yet that vote is of no value unless it is used. Voting is the way you get what you want in a democracy rather than what someone else wants. If you do not vote, then you really have no say in what happens to you or your country. It is true, as some politicians say, that abstaining is an alternative and an option, but it is not productive and in the workings of the democratic process it is not acceptable. Not to vote is to give away your say for no return. Attracting votes for or against is the way politicians and political parties win or lose. Asking people not to vote, even though it may be allowed, is not the democratic way. Asking people to indicate nothing, to stay away from the polls or to cast a blank ballot, is nothing other than an attempt to defeat the democratic process. It is not an attempt to defeat an issue or to express a preference but simply to defeat democracy. That is wrong because a vote is the essence of democracy. Universal Adult Suffrage was hard won in Bermuda. We went through any number of changes before we moved from the property vote, through the plus vote to Universal Adult Suffrage. After all that, why would anyone want to give up their vote on Independence, the most important issue to be faced by Bermudians? It is very unusual, if not unique, in any democracy for a political party to ask its supporters not to vote. Most political parties spend their efforts, their money and their volunteers' time getting out the vote. Yet the leadership of the Progressive Labour Party is asking its supporters not to vote in the Independence referendum. We can understand the PLP asking its supporters to vote for Independence or even not to vote for Independence under a UBP government, but asking people to give up their right to vote is almost beyond belief.

There can be nothing wrong with the people having a clean and clear say in a referendum on their future. A referendum with every vote equal is the very essence of democracy.

Without a decent turn-out for this referendum on Independence the people of Bermuda will be left in a state of confusion and indecision. All the damage this referendum and the preceding debate has done to human relations in Bermuda and all the uncertainty the referendum has created for Bermuda's economy will simply drag on without solution or decision. It is important to have a clear decision so that Bermudians can get on about their lives and the affairs of the Country.

If there is an indecisive vote because people heed the suggestions not to cast a vote, then the Progressive Labour Party will be left with responsibility for the political uncertainty and the economic confusion which will result. It makes no sense to put Bermuda through that.

Vote your conscience "YES'' or "NO''... but VOTE.