Premier Alex Scott has scotched concerns raised by Bermudians For Referendum that he would have no legal obligation to heed the result of a direct vote on Independence.

He also pledged that he would respond in time to a petition and letter from the pro-referendum campaigners, despite them saying this week that they have lost patience with waiting.

BFR campaign organiser Mike Marsh had told that he would like to see the constitution changed so that if the a referendum is held, the government would be obliged to act upon it.

?It seems to be possible that the Premier could just ignore a referendum. He seems to think he has it all his own way,? he commented on Wednesday.

However, responding yesterday Mr. Scott said: ?No Progressive Labour Party government would ever go against a bona fide general election result or referendum result if we put one in place. If the issue made its way to a decision by the people no matter which way, we would abide by it.?

Mr Marsh had also criticised the Premier for failing to respond to BFR?s pressure for an announcement on whether a referendum will be held on Independence.

The group delivered a petition with 15,523 signatures demanding this to the Premier on February 2, a total that represents 52.6 percent of those who voted in the 2003 election and according to Mr. Marsh 301 more than the number of votes the PLP received.

In a letter, the group challenged Mr. Scott to give an answer on the issue within a week, but Mr. Marsh claimed this plea had been met with a wall of silence.

Nonetheless, Mr. Scott said yesterday: ?We will ensure that the letter gets an answer like every other letter. It?s been put on my desk for attention within the last few days. I don?t think it?s polite to demand an answer within a time frame.?

Mr. Marsh had revealed that, because no response had been forthcoming from Mr. Scott, he had written on Monday to Governor Sir John Vereker. He wishes to discuss BFR?s concerns although the Governor?s office has in the past indicating that he does not want to get involved in the issue.

Sir John told The Royal Gazette yesterday that he had already replied to Mr. Marsh, although he declined to disclose details of his answer.

However, he did comment: ?There is no secret about what I have said before. It?s the British Parliament that has to decide on Independence for any overseas territory and it will be for them to decide if the wish for Independence is the clearly and constitutionally expressed wish of the row.

?I have repeatedly made it clear for over a year that at this time it?s the presumption of British ministers that a referendum would be the normal route for demonstrating the clear support of the people although that decision needs to be made according to the particular circumstances of the territory.

?The question of whether to hold a referendum at a particular time is not something for British ministers or the government to decide. If the government of a British overseas territory does not want to test opinion at a particular time, that?s their decision.?