THE group of former United Bermuda Party MPs dubbed the People's Five reunited for a special solidarity luncheon at the Mid Ocean Club yesterday, rallying behind member Trevor Moniz following his recent de facto expulsion from the Opposition and slamming Government initiatives on tourism and electoral reform.

The People's Five comprised C.V. (Jim) Woolridge, Ann Cartwright DeCouto, Dr. David Dyer, Dr. Clarence Terceira and Mr. Moniz.

They rose to prominence leading the Parliamentary fight against former Premier Sir John Swan's Independence initiative in 1995 and the later restaurant franchise debacle, even voting with the Progressive Labour Party against then-UBP Premier Dr. David Saul in a motion censuring his leadership.

"From little acorns big trees grow," said retired UBP MP Jim Woolridge prior to yesterday's luncheon. "We want to show that not everybody around here is asleep."

Topping the People's Five lunch agenda was Smith's South MP Trevor Moniz's recent official banishment from the UBP.

"Trevor Moniz will get back into Parliament the next time around even if he runs as an Independent," said Mr. Woolridge. "There is no question about that.

"I think the UBP has made a fundamental error. He was prepared to come back and abide by the rules. Their actions against him were purely vindictive. The UBP needs to get together all the willing and able people they can. You can't build a party with this vindictive attitude."

Mr. Woolridge said the People's Five got together to discuss the "state of the nation" and how they can assist in "what is not a very healthy situation for Bermuda".

"Revenue is down," said Mr. Woolridge. "Tourism is in the pits. And we have half of the hotel beds we had some time ago. The five of us are having a little reunion and to discuss these and other matters."

Mr. Woolridge said the UBP's former strength lay in the diversity of its members' views. "People were never afraid to express different thoughts and opinions," said Mr. Woolridge, who was a UBP MP for 33 years.

"This is how you can come to a consensus, you accommodate all thoughts and opinions. Bermuda is like a big quilt with different people, cultures and views. Once you try to stifle that, you're in trouble."

This was the first public statement Mr. Woolridge has made since his retirement from Parliament last year. Dr. Terceira, who retired from Parliament prior to the 1998 General Election, now spends much of his time abroad. But he was on the island this week for the lunch.

"We meet every now and then because we are friends," he said. "When I am here we usually have a lunch together and chat about everything and anything such as the present political system and what needs to be. It is really a friendly get-together." And Dr. Terceira praised UBP Pembroke West candidate Jamahl Simmons who is running for office in the constituency he used to represent.

"He is very bright young man," said Dr. Terceira. "I encouraged him some time ago to get involved in politics. I would have been possibly one of his nominators if I had been here."

Dr. Terceira guessed that if elected to Parliament, Mr. Simmons wouldn't cause any big waves at first.

"I didn't make my inaugural speech in the House of Assembly for six or eight weeks," he said. "You can't expect someone to come in banging his fist on the table. It takes a little time to know the ins and outs of politics and stand up comfortably for what you believe in, even if it is against what the Government wants."

Former UBP MP Ann Cartwright DeCouto also said she was looking forward to the lunch at the Mid Ocean Club.

"There are a number of very important things which have not been handled well," she said. "We need to find a way forward."

She said this included the vexed electoral reform issue and Bermuda's sagging tourism.

"There are things the Government is trying to do in the tourism realm but I don't think they are going about it with the right focus," she said. "I think things could be somewhat improved with the right focus.

"I am also concerned about the lack of publication of these very important reports to do with electoral reform.

"I have just signed a letter this morning to the secretary of the Boundaries Commission requesting an appearance before them to make a verbal presentation."

She said she was "most distressed" that her colleague Trevor Moniz had been expelled from the party.

"He was suspended from the Whip for two years. During those two years he couldn't possibly attend the UBP caucus - and his absence from the UBP caucus meetings was one of the reasons they trotted out to rationalise not restoring the Whip.

"And there was a report in The Royal Gazette last year showing that his attendance at the House of Assembly was 100 per cent perfect. So we really haven't had a proper explanation from the UBP, as yet."

Mrs. DeCouto herself went with Mr. Moniz to the UBP disciplinary committee to help him plead his case.

"I was absolutely astonished that nobody asked him single question," said Mrs. DeCouto. "They have an intractable mind-set and they seem to regard readmitting him as suicide. The reason for it perplexes me."

And she said she hoped they weren't punishing Mr. Moniz for the past actions of the People's Five.

"The five of us stood shoulder to shoulder," she said. "I can only hope this is not a revenge for that. I am hoping he is not bearing the total burden of all the animosity they may have felt toward us."

She said it was time for the whole team to pull together.

"Everyone is an individual; we are not clones," she said. "We all believe in the principles of the UBP and we need an effective Opposition moving forward. Every man, woman and child is needed to row. To throw someone out of the boat, particularly a strong rower, seems to be self-defeating."

Dr. David Dyer said he hoped it would be a good and productive lunch.

"What would make it even better is if Jim pays," Dr. Dyer joked.

On a more serious note, Dr. Dyer said: "I think what is happening now is that there is a great deal of uncertainty largely predicated by a total lack of information coming out of Government. The public is totally in the dark.

"If you don't agree with a position, then it's because 'I'm black and you're white'. It is time we moved away from that. We can all have different opinions. Race has nothing to do with it."

Mr. Moniz declined to comment.