"the man on the street'' would notice little change in the way the Country was governed.

Deputy Premier the Hon. Irving Pearman tabled a 39-page collection of Independence position papers in the House of Assembly, where they are to be debated.

"The Government does not believe that an Independent Bermuda should have a system of Government dramatically different from that provided for by the present Constitution,'' says the foreword to the document.

But sections on citizenship and cost promise to be contentious ones.

At a news conference, Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan denied reports based on news media leaks that Government was offering citizenship to long-term residents as an enticement for certain groups to vote "yes'' to Independence in an August 15 referendum.

"What we are doing is recognising that in an Independent Bermuda, we will be forced to reconcile the position of those who have been here for many years, and who have, as a result, become a part of the community,'' he said.

"Government's position is that those people who have been resident in Bermuda for 20 years or longer should be able to apply for citizenship in an Independent Bermuda.'' Eligible long-term residents would have one year to apply for citizenship.

Anyone holding Bermuda status by birth or grant would automatically become citizens, and dual citizenship would be allowed. Complex formulas are spelled out for a variety of special cases involving spouses and children.

Sir John said Government had no estimate of how many people would be eligible for citizenship in an Independent Bermuda, but he expected Mr. Pearman could provide a number prior to referendum day.

"We've been very careful not to make (numbers) the issue,'' he said. It was a question of who was entitled to citzenship, and the numbers were not expected to be "excessive''.

While critics including Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira have said the cost of Independence would quickly run into the millions, the position papers peg the cost at $1.33 million a year.

That includes $473,557 for a Ministry of External Affairs, $452,000 to join the United Nations and contribute to its peackeeping budget, $325,000 to join specialised UN agencies, and $80,000 to join the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The papers are available free of charge from Government Information Services and are also to be published in full in The Royal Gazette next week.

At a news conference attended by most of his Cabinet Ministers, Sir John said the position papers put paid to Opposition charges that he was asking Bermudians for "a blank cheque'' on Independence. The Opposition has charged that the position papers are little more than "essays'', which do not bind Government as a policy paper called a White Paper would. In response, Sir John said a PLP manifesto would be no more binding, if the issue was decided in a general election as the Opposition wished.

"We are the Government and we would be morally bound to respect the public,'' the Premier said. Should Bermudians opt for Independence, "we recognise that any document we present would be subject to negotiations at a Constitutional conference,'' with the Opposition and the British Government.

Main points of position papers Bermuda would remain in the Commonwealth with the Queen as head of state. A Governor-General would be appointed by the Queen on advice of the Prime Minister, after consultation with Opposition Leader.

The two Houses of Parliament would remain essentially unchanged. The 11-member Senate would be appointed by the Governor-General, with five members named on the advice of the Prime Minister, three on the advice of the Opposition Leader, and three at his own discretion after consultation with both leaders.

Constituencies would continue to be set within existing parish boundaries, with a Boundaries Commission to adjust constituencies within those boundaries.

Government would ask the United Kingdom to review Bermuda's internal security and defence capabilities, to see if more resources were needed.

Bermuda would seek a friendship treaty with either the UK, United States, or Canada.

Citizenship, the judiciary, appeals to the Privy Council, and procedures for reviewing constituency boundaries would be among items "specially entrenched'' in the Constitution, meaning a three-quarters vote of both houses of Parliament and a majority vote in a referendum would be required to change them.

All holders of Bermuda status, by birth or grant, would automatically acquire Bermudian citizenship.

Those resident in Bermuda for at least 20 years before Independence Day could apply for citizenship, provided they had been of good conduct and character for at least the last ten years.

Eligible long-term residents would have one year to apply for citizenship.

Dual nationality would be permitted.

Certificates of residence could be granted for those who live in Bermuda permanently or have vacation homes on the Island.