Premier Alex Scott yesterday told members of the Bermudians for Referendum and the press that the United Bermuda Party "chose not to participate" in the Bermuda Independence Commission (BIC) Report.

The Premier handed a copy of the BIC report to the Bermudians for Referendum and made the statement in response to a question from BFR member, Michael Marsh as to why the BIC Report did not contain submissions from the UBP.

"I'm glad you asked that!" Mr. Scott said, adding that the UBP had written a letter with the words "to that effect".

"They didn't really make a submission like everyone else," Mr. Scott said.

But said they would ask the leader of the opposition for their submission and put it on the Government website.

When contacted yesterday the leader of the opposition, Dr. Grant Gibbons said the statement made by the Premier about the UBP choosing not to make submissions to the BIC report was "ridiculous".

However, he would not go into more detail, adding that UBP would be holding a press conference today to discuss the BIC Report which was made public on September 15, but failed to include the UBP's submission which was made to the BIC on June 8 this year.