Government will soon release a paper on Independence, Premier Alex Scott said yesterday.

?In the coming weeks, we will release a document outlining the basic issues surrounding Independence in a clear and understandable format,? he said in a statement to the House of Assembly yesterday.

?The intent of this first document will be to create a starting point that will serve to ensure that we are all speaking to the same issues.?

In a statement to the House of Assembly yesterday the Premier repeated his call for an open national discussion on Independence. He said he was pleased that his Founders day Speech had kickstarted a discussion but challenged the community to take it to a ?higher level?.

?It is important for all of us as Bermudians to have a meaningful discussion on Independence, but in order for that to happen we must have an appreciation of what Independence is and what it would mean for Bermuda,? he said.

?We must understand the significance of our Constitutional position and the current role of the United Kingdom Government in our affairs. In other words we must all be speaking to the extent that we can do so, on the same issues and from the same background knowledge.?

He stressed that while he was personally in favour of Independence, the Government was acutely aware that the country must make a decision together.

?It is no secret that I also hold that desire within my heart, but I also realise that there is another perspective on the issue of Independence for Bermuda within our community,? Mr. Scott said.

?There is a segment of this community who love Bermuda just as much as I do, exhibit a commitment to Bermuda that is no less than my own and are just as proud to be Bermudian as I am.

?The difference between us, however, is that they believe that we as a country are fine exactly the way we are.?

He added that some people had misunderstood his Founders Day Speech in which he called for a discussion on Independence and ?have immediately moved to campaign for or against Independence or to debate the perceived pros and cons of Sovereignty?.

?Some have even questioned my motives and tried to find reasons why I would choose to raise the discussion of Independence at this time.

?In response to the latter I say: ?what better time to discuss Independence?? We are not pressured by a pending General Election, Referendum, or scheduled Constitutional change and therefore there is an opportunity for us to enter into this discussion free from pressures that could circumvent the process or further marginalize positions within the community.?

He said: ?We need to be able to address this subject openly, objectively and nationally. This should not be an issue for the PLP or the UBP, or black Bermudians and white Bermudians.

?This should be an issue for all Bermudians to be able to share their individual points of view and thereby improve our overall understanding of the topic.?

He ended his speech with a challenge to the Opposition United Bermuda Party to ?enter the discussion with us?.

?There will be time to debate the subject and at an even later point still, there will be time to mount our respective campaigns, but right now must be the time for a comprehensive, fact-finding, analytical and reasoned approach,? Mr. Scott said.

?I encourage the people of Bermuda to take the time to listen to, and respect all views and positions during this discussion and to know that the Government has no intention to take any decisions that are not in line with the collective will of the people of Bermuda.?