You refer to the Nairn case in the Bahamas in 1969, where Michael Stewart agreed to commute the death sentence. However, he did this precisely because he had reason to suspect that if the execution had been allowed to go ahead a miscarriage of justice might have occurred. There were strong grounds to believe that Nair's mental state was such that he should not have been condemned under the standards which normally apply in such circumstances. In the Bermuda cases, I examined all aspects of the legal procedures that had been followed but could find no evidence to suggest that there could be a miscarriage of justice.
You also refer to the UN declaration on the granting of independence. I can assure you that this Government is entirely committed to the principle of granting independence as speedily as possible, wherever we believe that that is what the people of any of our dependent territories want. However, we do not believe this to mean that colonies should be forced into independence against the wishes of the majority of their inhabitants. Bermuda itself is already engaged in a process of internal discussions about independence. The Bermuda Government have published a Green Paper on the subject, and this is to be followed by a White Paper as soon as the population have had a chance to express their views. If the consensus of local opinion is that the country should move towards independence, then this Government will certainly give them all possible help and encouragement to do so.
(DAVID OWEN)
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