Political activist Rolfe Commissiong has blasted Premier Jennifer Smith's "vague'' stand on Independence.

"To date the Premier's position has evolved from being vaguely hostile to just plain vague,'' he said, speaking at the Kiwanis Club at Ocean View on Monday night.

"I tend to be an optimist and that's why the Premier's ambiguous statements notwithstanding, I remain of the view that Independence is fairly imminent and necessary.

"Bermuda is an emerging city-state of the first rank and it's time that we acted like it,'' he said.

In the next 12 months, Independence will be one of the biggest political issues predicted Mr. Commissiong.

"Apparently, what was once a song essentially sung by a lonely trio has been joined by a veritable chorus.'' Mr. Commissiong outlined five theories about Independence -- written in a recent column in the Bermuda Sun called Independence March Gains Momentum.

The five theories -- New Chapter, Race and Nationality, Self-Determination, Reinventing Government and Bread and Butter -- help him promote Independence discussion.

"In many ways I feel like the pinch hitter in baseball that has been now called upon by the coach to save the team by hitting a home run -- I will try my best,'' he said.

In his `New Chapter Theory', Mr. Commissiong said, "We have basically exhausted all further possibilities for development under the constraints of our present social and political realities.

"What is needed is for us to write a new narrative or story so as to establish a new ethos. To set forth political and social values that better reflect who we are.

"And while we have begun the journey from the old Bermuda, we will not create fully this new Bermuda, until we become an independent nation.'' He said the `New Chapter Theory' also calls on Bermudians "to balance purely consumer and/or materialistic goals by adopting a national ideal.'' And he said the `Race and Nationality Theory' argues Bermuda's racial divide can be "at least migrated by the construction of a national identity''.

"Dr. Peters, former Bermuda College Vice-President, speaking to this issue approximately two years ago noted that he could not sense any significant degree of nationalism amongst Bermudians.

"In the absence of a `National Superstructure', our ability to transcend our distinct racial and/or ethnic differences will continue to be limited.'' The `Self-Determination Theory' calls for all powers held by the British Government to be taken over by an independent Bermuda Government. The theory advocates a Republican-style government over retention of the Queen as the head of state for Bermuda.

And borrowing a phrase from the Clinton-era US government, `Reinventing Government Theory' calls for the deconstruction of present governmental institutions.

But he conceded it is unlikely Bermuda will relinquish the Westminister government many call "anachronistic and needlessly confrontational''.

"The Bread and Butter Theory is basically an economic one that says an independent Bermuda will be better positioned to protect its economic interest,'' he said.

"In an ever-changing global environment where flexibility is paramount and decisions need to be made relatively quickly -- any advance that removes an additional and unnecessary layer of authority -- i.e. Britain -- is welcomed.''