UK Favours Referendum On Independence In Bermuda

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

16 February 2005

According to reports in the Bermudian media this week, the UK government has hinted that its preferred method of settling the question of independence for Bermuda would be to hold a referendum on the subject.

The Royal Gazette, which obtained a copy of a statement issued by UK Overseas Territories Minister, Bill Rammell on Friday, quoted the Minister as explaining that:

"As the grant of independence by the UK requires the prior approval of Parliament, the UK Government needs to be satisfied that, if a territory moves to independence, it does so on the basis of the clearly and constitutionally expressed wish of the people."

He went on to add:

“The move to independence is a fundamental step. Increasingly in the UK, major constitutional issues of this kind are being put to a referendum. At this time, the presumption of the UK Government is that a referendum would be the way of testing opinion in those territories where independence is an option. But a final decision on whether to go the referendum route, and what form the referendum might take, would need to be determined by the UK on a case-by-case basis, reflecting the uniqueness and individual characteristics of each territory.”

According to the Royal Gazette, Premier Alex Scott declined to comment on the matter until he had received the information "through the proper channels". However, Bermudian government is known to favour deciding the sovereignty question via a General Election.

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