Independence is an indication of the extreme frustration felt by many Bermudians today. Seldom has the Country's atmosphere been so "stirred up'' or the Bermudian people in such a state of discontent.

The frustration felt by Mr. Curtis and many, many others is generated first by the debate on Independence and then by the lack of action on the referendum.

If we have the referendum this summer it will have been some 18 months on the boil and if we wait until December then it will be nearly two years. That is far too long a disruption for any country and certainly far too long for one with a fragile economy.

From the beginning people have urged that a referendum not be allowed to drag on and on debilitating our economy and creating confusion among our clients. A lack of clear and decisive action gives the impression that Bermuda is poorly run. That is exactly what an economy based on stability does not need.

A referendum is very different from a general election. There is no benefit in surprise for the party in power. There is also no need to wait until the candidates have been nominated in case there are unexpected candidates since there are no candidates. We all know the issue and very few minds are likely to change with more debate. The result does not appear to hinge on a political campaign over a few percentage points. Indeed if it does hinge on a few percentage points, then it is too divisive to be acceptable because any country should have general acceptance before it takes a step as difficult as Independence.

All of that being the case, there is no reason not to set a date and thus allow the public to plan such things as holidays, especially if the referendum is going to be in August, the major summer holiday month. The Premier has a commitment to hold the referendum when students are home and able to vote but he also has a duty to the public not to hold as referendum when he knows a great many people would normally be out of the Country. He must also remember that not too many people will be happy if he disrupts Christmas with a referendum. There is also no reason not to allow a long period for absentee balloting. It would not be unreasonable to allow absentee balloting beginning when the writ is issued and the date is set.

Independence is not a decision which requires political input. Indeed it seems to us that on this issue both political parties are out of step with the public, not only their own followers but the public in general. Just as there was no groundswell for Independence, there is no groundswell for a referendum.

This is an event staged by a small number of politicians. The politicians and the same old demagogues see Independence as being of some benefit to them but the general public sees this event as unnecessary, divisive of Bermudians and an unwelcome disruption of their lives and of the Country.

Nevertheless we are going to have a referendum and a referendum is the most democratic process possible. Individual members of the public need to make up their mind and they need to vote. If they do not vote they have no say in the result. They should try their best to ignore those demagogues who seek personal glory and those politicians who ask them not to vote or who issue biased study papers.

Bermudians are among the best educated and most sophisticated voters in the world. Bermudians are too smart to bow to the personal aims of politicians.

Bermudians know what they want and they know what is best for them and best for Bermuda.