A Bermuda Independence Commission member has fiercely defended the group?s report ? and hit out at a small minority he claims is determined to hold the country ?hostage to fear?.

Political activist Rolfe Commissiong said in the wake of the report he hoped myths and misconceptions long linked with the Independence issue would be ?addressed and debunked?, allowing the topic to be discussed in a atmosphere ?devoid of irrational fears and undue suspicion?.

He added: ?In short, one in which the facts would speak for themselves, whether one was for or against the issue of full sovereignty for Bermuda.?

Although confident this can still happen, he criticised a small, largely white ?cabal or loose coalition? which he claimed was against Independence and determined to advance their position at any cost, even if it meant destabilising the Island.

He added: ?It bears noting that there is still a small minority among us who are determined to hold all of us hostages to their fears, and thus foster instability and enmity throughout our community.?

He said this minority group included , The Mid-Ocean News, as well as ?columnists and characters? inside and outside the United Bermuda Party political establishment. The list of ?characters? included Opposition Leader Grant Gibbons and fellow UBP member John Barritt, as well as editor William Zuill.

He claimed they had gone out of their way in a bid to discredit the commission and the report.

Opposition to Independence in the broader black community and with ?more reasonable? members of the white community had been driven by lack of education on the issue, he told a Press conference at the Bermuda Industrial Union yesterday.

And Mr. Commissiong said this was why the BIC report was so important. He urged all residents to read it and said he understood extra copies would soon be made available to the public.

Asked later about claims from critics that the report contained mistakes on other countries and independence referendums, he said the commission had produced answers within its remit.

Mr. Zuill said yesterday he was disappointed with Mr. Commissiong?s attacks.

?I believe ?s news coverage of the Independence debate has been fair and accurate and has attempted to cover all points of view. The newspaper?s editorial viewpoint has been consistent. Its editorials have consistently stated that Bermuda would most likely be OK as an independent country, but that it has yet to see a compelling reason for changing from the current constitutional position.

?Therefore, given the risks inherent in Independence, the newspaper?s editorials have seen no reason to change the status quo.?