Independence.

The United Bermuda Party Government has said any decision on Independence should be made through a referendum, while the Opposition Progressive Labour Party wants a general election called over the issue.

But yesterday, the Committee for the Independence of Bermuda espoused a third option -- "harmony.'' The committee's Mr. Walton Brown Jr. said an inter-party committee should be formed to identify areas of agreement and negotiate points of disagreement.

"This option will require our politicians to place Bermuda's interests above party interests,'' Mr. Brown said in a news release.

A referendum was too simplistic and could be invalidated by a low voter turnout.

Mr. Brown also said the Committee had written to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London seeking clarification of recent remarks by British MP Mr.

Rupert Allason. Mr. Allason said Britain would be willing to offer a dependent Bermuda the right of abode in the European Union.