Should Bermuda go independent, one of the key factors on the mind of Premier Alex Scott is keeping the British system of jurisprudence.

Mr. Scott said the intention was to keep the British system of law in place even if the Island were to go Independent, as this had been one of the reasons the international business sector had been attracted to Bermuda.

He added that the Island was seen as a politically stable domicile, and that nothing would be done that would “dramatically depart from present constructs”.

Speaking with The Royal Gazette yesterday afternoon in his hotel suite in San Diego - where he is leading a Government delegation at the Risk and Insurance Management Systems (RIMS) conference - Mr. Scott added that, should Independence be decided on, it will still take a significant amount of time to implement.

“Bermudians don't have to worry that they will go to bed on Sunday and wake up to Independence,” he said.

And international business as well as other stakeholders will have their say on the issue, he said.

“They are not voting, they are not lobbying, but international business - specifically the insurance industry - should be invited to make their views known.

“They are obviously important to Bermuda and if left out of the discussion then 1) We would not be aware of how they feel on the subject and 2) We would create an ‘us-versus-them', and we don't want to have that.

”Everyone (in the international business sector) is interested and we are pleased at that,” he said.

“Some are more supportive with the idea on the table than others, but those in international business seem to be satisfied with where we are, which is in a discussion stage.

“If Independence happens, one key component in my mind is that we would retain the British system of jurisprudence.”

He said this was one of the reasons Bermuda was attractive to international business, and seen as key to Bermuda's political stability - a factor he talked about at a pre-RIMS Bank of Bermuda function in California on Saturday night.

He said that political stability and financial stability went hand in hand, and yesterday said the Island's insurance sector was satisfied that, after six years under a PLP Government, they would maintain that stability.

Mr. Scott said yesterday afternoon there was no fixed timetable in mind for taking Bermuda independent. “If and when we do take that decision and if it is for sovereignty it is going to be a few years before the Island becomes independent.

“There would be a delay to put the necessary infrastructure in place.”

The PLP over the years have expressed the view that Independence should be decided on in a General Election - a view which has been met with much opposition by locals calling for a referendum.

But before the issue reached that point, the subject needed discussion, Mr. Scott said yesterday.

‘'A referendum is seen as an option we would consider down the road, but we are discussing right now. There is so much for the population to understand. First, let's make sure all Bermudians understand the subject, and make sure they are responding to something they understand.”

Mr. Scott conceded that, so far, the subject of Independence had not come up during his stay in San Diego, but that it could in the days to come.

He said that he had only spoken to a select group of Bank of Bermuda executives and clients but would be meeting those in the insurance sector today and tomorrow.

This morning Mr. Scott makes an official walk around the RIMS conference hall and is expected to make courtesy visits to the booths of rival business domiciles such as the Cayman Islands, as well as a visit to the booth of London market Lloyd's.

“If there is an opportunity (for the subject of Independence to be raised), we will hear it then,” he said, but noted that he had already heard concerns from the high level of the international business sector in a previous meeting on the Island.

He said a meeting had been held - but he did not name participants as it had been an “off the record” meeting - in Bermuda with a broad cross section of insurance CEOs and they had been supportive of where Government was on the subject with it being in a discussion phase.

“We have got the support from international business of having the discussion first and then moving to the next level, which would be Parliamentary debate.

”We are not rushing to move to the end game. This is much too important a decision.”

Mr. Scott will be travelling to Washington DC to meet with US legislators on April 27, but said he did not expect the subject of Independence to come up during those meetings.