August 15 Independence referendum, says a lawyer who has broken ranks with the Opposition party over its boycott call.

But the PLP must "rise to the occasion'' and demand "a compromise'' in return for urging its supporters to vote `yes', Mr. Philip Perinchief told The Royal Gazette .

Mr. Perinchief rejected PLP leader Mr. Frederick Wade's claim that Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan -- who recently offered an Independence `olive branch' to the PLP -- has no authority to make any deals.

"That might be constitutionally how politics is understood,'' he said.

"However, practically, (Sir John) could muster seven or perhaps even ten of his very important Ministers, and if they make a pact...in exchange for a `yes' vote from the PLP, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.'' While such a promise "might not be sanctioned'' by the party at large, "the UBP would have to go along with it, or risk dismantlement'', Mr. Perinchief said.

In return for urging a `yes' vote in the referendum, the PLP should call for equal-sized single-seat constituencies, elimination of the foreign vote, and a general election two years after the referendum, said Mr. Perinchief, who was a PLP candidate in Pembroke West Central in 1993.

"You would have Independence Day the day after the election, which would decide which party would govern, and indeed, who would be the Prime Minister.'' Sir John recently publicly embraced single-seat constituencies, sending shock waves through the UBP, where neither Cabinet nor caucus was reportedly consulted.

Mr. Perinchief said that the PLP drew 46 percent of the popular vote in the 1993 general election, and all that was needed for an Independence mandate was for 41 percent of the electorate to vote `yes'.

"They clearly can tell their people to vote yes.'' A recent poll commissioned by The Royal Gazette found that only 17 percent of Bermudians generally, and 24 percent of black voters said they would vote `yes'.

Mr. Perinchief said he had been involved in "house to house meetings'' with members of the PLP rank and file and "civil servants who can't express their views''.

The PLP hierarcy -- including all MPs and Senators -- "seem to be very solid for the boycott call'', Mr. Perinchief said.

"Privately, they might share my views, but their official stand is that they will be abstaining.'' "I think the PLP leadership seems to have become intransigent on this point,'' he said.