Critics of the Premier still hope to oust him by persuading enough PLP branches to call for a special conference on his leadership, according to a party insider.

The source told The Royal Gazette yesterday that those wishing to see Ewart Brown removed as PLP leader believe the best way to do it is from the grassroots — and that is why the issue was not voted on at Monday night's central committee meeting.

As reported in yesterday's newspaper, a motion to hold a special delegates' conference on the issue was proposed and later withdrawn at the four-hour central committee meeting at Alaska Hall, leaving Dr. Brown in place as leader.

The source said the motion was proposed early on in the evening by a representative from one of the east end branches of the PLP. "There was a clamour for seconds," they added.

The insider claimed that as the meeting progressed, members of the anti-Dr. Brown faction were sending messages to one another on their BlackBerry smartphones.

"BlackBerries were operating. The proposer of the motion was texted to withdraw the motion, which he did. It was thought that rather than have a vote, it would be better to remove it and if no one else comes with a motion that we should not have one [a special conference], then it leaves the matter open."

The source said those plotting to remove the Premier did not want it to be recorded that the party's managing committee — which is made up of executive officers, branch representatives, MPs and senators — was against such a conference. "That is why the motion was withdrawn."

The PLP constitution dictates that a special delegates' conference can be called either by the central committee or if 12 of the 36 PLP branches request one.

The insider said there was now likely to be a "cooling off" period but predicted that enough branches would request a conference before Parliament returns in November.

The source described the Premier as looking "extremely apprehensive and not his usual buoyant self" at the start of Monday night's meeting. His prepared speech, they said, was gracious and conciliatory.

"He said he would reach out and reach far and often until the matter is resolved. He reiterated that he would like to continue his term until October 2010. I think what the Premier wanted to put across was that there are some clear differences and we will work them through."

Others to speak at the Alaska Hall session were Deputy Premier Paula Cox who, according to the source, chastised those MPs who called for Dr. Brown to resign in the House of Assembly last week.

The source claimed she said that if the leadership question went to a special delegates' conference, she would be forced to show her hand.

"She said: 'I'm going to rest assured that when I do throw my hat in, I'm going to have at least five other contenders'. She recognises that some are willing to move past her."

Sacked Energy Minister Terry Lister, who led the calls for the Premier to resign last week, also got to his feet and was heckled by diehard Dr. Brown supporters.

But the insider said party chairman David Burt stamped on the interruptions and insisted that Mr. Lister be allowed to continue.

"He was brilliant on his feet," the insider said of the Sandys South MP. "He said: 'I'm not saying this matter should go on immediately to a special delegates conference'. He said: 'I would have thought those branch representatives should go back to their branches'."

PLP central committee member LaVerne Furbert told this newspaper after Monday night's meeting that it had ended with the right result "of course". "It was wasting people's time," she said.

Secretary General Linda Merritt said: "Everybody had a chance to talk. We could see the way it was going to go from the beginning."