Premier Alex Scott last night hailed the performance of Bermuda in a pioneering new literacy survey ? and hinted at its implications for the ongoing independence debate.

Mr. Scott told a PLP meeting in Pembroke how he was asked at the press conference unveiling the results that, if the country was now so literate, why not hold a referendum on breaking ties with Britain. The Premier said that the results revealed that Bermuda had a literate population that could read an election manifesto.

In a statement that may be seen as a blow by campaigners pushing for a single issue referendum on the subject, and not a decision tied to an election vote, Mr. Scott added: ?Our population is on the move and can, in actual fact, run this country. Young people believe it. Now we have got to get to the adult population.?

He said a campaign would be starting to talk ?seriously? about independence.

And he told PLP members: ?We may choose, at the end of the day, to remain where we are. Or we may choose to believe in ourselves and take the country on to the next level.?

He added that the survey showed Bermuda had a literate population who could read and comprehend the platform of a Government at a general election ?and take the decision to go independent that way?.

?They can handle more than yes or no,? Mr. Scott told party supporters.

During an unscheduled appearance at a meeting at West Pembroke Primary School last night, the Premier appeared in defiant and buoyant mood.

He continued: ?Let me tell those that are watching what the PLP is doing. It?s going to be more and more good news, week in week out because programmes and policies we are putting in place are now, to use a phrase, coming on line.?

And he revealed that British Prime Minister Tony Blair, on a previous visit to Bermuda, had told him over dinner: ?You run this country as well as I run, or better than I run, Great Britain.?

?He said it. I did not ask him to say it,? added the Premier. ?This country run well.

In an almost election-style address, which was heard by an audience of about 50 people, including several Government Ministers, Senators and MPs, he added: ?Can it be better? Of course...Have we done all we have promised? Not yet. But stay with us members, stay with us. Because we are on a winning team.?

Mr. Scott also praised the Government?s handling of the economy. He said that unemployment was just over two per cent, better than in the UK and US, and said 52 per cent of insurance and reinsurance companies in Bermuda grew between 1998 and 2006. ?Not under the UBP,? said Mr. Scott. ?Under the Government that they said would drive this business away. We are talking about the best insurance and reinsurance globally ? we are maintaining it and sustaining it.?

He said the recently announced Work Development Initiative would help ensure more Bermudians could play a part in this booming sector.