January 28, 2002

Dear Sir,

The expulsion of Trevor Moniz from the UBP Parliamentary Group is shocking, especially as he had declared his willingness to go along with the majority decisions of the Party MPs. He did so in the interest of Party unity even though, understandably, he has had serious disagreements with some of the leadership policies. So do I.

The decision of the Group, on a 6-4 vote, to kick him out is not only incredibly stupid, but smacks of revenge for past voting differences in Parliament.

The hierarchy consistently call Mr. Moniz a bad "team player". What kind of team players do they think they are? It's time for them to listen to the team that really matters - the many supporters and voters who have a high opinion of Mr. Moniz.

How about the hundreds of Smith's South UBP voters who elected him? Does the Party leadership have the right, never mind the gall, to tell them they can no longer be represented by their elected UBP Member of Parliament? If so, it's time to change the rule.

Two reasonably "safe" UBP seats recently became vacant, calling for by-elections. These were opportunities for the UBP to put up candidates who are either proven veterans or outstanding newcomers.

So what do they do? They reinstall Maxwell Burgess, despite his dismal Parliamentary record. The other candidate is an inexperienced rookie, overburdened with responsibility in the present circumstances.

It was Burgess, in the previous parliamentary session, who had tried to ram McDonald's hamburgers through the House, despite an Island-wide petition signed by more than 7,000 objectors - a prime reason why the UBP is now The Opposition. Some team player! Thanks to Trevor Moniz and a few others, the McDonald disaster was averted.

Did anyone "up there" think of inviting Ann Cartwright DeCouto back to fill either of the by-election vacancies? I doubt it. She was once Deputy Premier and, until the last general election, one of the ablest, most forthright and respected Members of Parliament.

I urge the UBP leaders to rethink the expulsion of Trevor Moniz, and reopen negotiations to get him back on board before the next election. This appalling travesty has gone on too long, and is far too damaging.

T.C. AITCHISON

Pembroke