Opposition leader Grant Gibbons has renewed his call for an early referendum on independence ? but he has refused to say how he will vote.

Calling it an issue of confidence he said it was not up to the UBP to tell its voters how they should vote on independence.

?It?s a very important decision and one we believe every individual voter should make on their own by referendum.?

But he refused to say which way he would jump. ?It is difficult for me to speak as an individual ? it will be assumed I am speaking for the party if I give my opinion.

?But I voted against independence in the 1995 referendum.?

Asked if he had experienced any changes of heart Dr. Gibbons again refused to comment. ?It is an irrevocable decision. It is not like an election where if you make a mistake in who you choose you can correct that at the next election.?

And Dr. Gibbons doesn?t believe it should always appear on the ballot paper at every election.

He said: ?It should be by a referendum by itself so people can clearly focus on the issues.

?We believe the issue of independence raised by the PLP almost two years ago is really starting to create some uncertainty particularly in the international business area.

?We think it?s important to bring closure to this matter by setting a date by March 2006 so we can get into the remainder of the year and not be distracted from the really critical such as housing, education and crime.?