September 23, 2013Dear Sir,Many Bermudians are beginning to get concerned with our Premier appearing to want to edge us towards Independence. We lost the services of one very good Premier who tried to do this and got roundly defeated by the majority of Bermudians at our Referendum on this same subject. 75% of Bermudians voted NO to Independence.It was to be expected that Mr Walton Brown and the PLP would back our Premier on trying to get more autonomy for Bermuda. They have always been honest in their wish for Independence for Bermuda. They see backing our Premier as the thin edge of the wedge.Of the British Overseas Territories Bermuda enjoys more self-government than any other.It does not have to bear the costs of its external relations and defence. It has a high degree of control over its own affairs.Caribbean and Pacific small states can attest to the high and increasing costs of maintaining security and participating in international affairs as well as to the lack of human resources to carry out the tasks involved.When researching for the Green Paper on this subject it was revealed that the Bahamas had placed representatives throughout the Caribbean and Central America, as well as Ambassador to Washington, separate Ambassador to the United Nations and a High Commissioner in Canada.They have a High Commissioner in London and representatives in Belgium and Germany.Politicians start off in a minimum way as did the Bahamas. A University classmate of mine was their first Ambassador to Washington who was also their Ambassador to the United Nations as well as carrying out the duty of High Commissioner in Ottawa. He told me it was not an arduous task to do all three positions.But when he retired they made all three separate posts, “Jobs for the boys.”Politicians, generally, have enormous egos and their thrust to self-aggrandisement knows no bounds. The taxpayer picks up the cost!Since our Referendum Britain has granted Bermudians British citizenship, if requested, and the issue of a British and European Passport. This permits work in Britain and Europe without work permits and easy access to Educational Institutions.Also the tuition at these institutions is at the lower end of the scale. That Passport permits easy travel throughout Europe and without it we would need the time consuming and frustration effort of applying for Visas for each country.Our Premier has stated that seeking a greater say in choice of Governor, Police Commissioner and Commander of the Regiment is not a priority of his Government. He should make himself very clear about this ‘whim’ of ‘self-determination’.Dr CR Terceira.