of the Referendum claiming the UBP Government is unstable and unreliable.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Bermuda Industrial Union says it is in favour of Independence but not via a Referendum and has called on its members to boycott the vote.

Its officials will meet tomorrow to ensure the Union's members abstain from voting and to examine the necessity of a general election as well as a union response in the event of a complete breakdown of Government after August 15.

The statement says the Union is "most concerned'' about the direction in which Bermuda is being taken in the name of Independence and claims the country is being misled.

"The behaviour of our national leaders leaves much to be desired. The country is being fed more confusion than political education,'' the statement said.

"There is no secret to the fact that the Government is unstable and obviously unreliable. The question is how long can the Government continue in this destabilised condition?'' Although the Union is in favour of Independence it is not in favour of a Referendum.

"At this time we are all witnessing the ill-effects of the Referendum as it is clearly wrecking the relationship between individuals, families and political parties,'' the statement says.

It adds: "Bermuda has never experienced such turmoil, confusion and bickering. Quite frankly, there is plenty of evidence to show that there is some `madness' among our people.'' No matter what the outcome of the Referendum, the Union says, there will be no winners and the idea of the vote should be abandoned "without any hesitation''.

Bermudians will wake up on August 16 to "bitter feelings which will not be quick to erase''.

"The Union is against the Referendum, but very much in favour of an Independent Bermuda,'' the statement said.