PLP MP El James may be heading for a collision with the rules of the House of Assembly over his refusal to declare his financial interests.

And the Island's strongest advocate for the Register of Members' Interests is seeking to have the Register entrenched in the Constitution.

Mr. James is now the only legislator not to have complied with the law which requires politicians to maintain a list of their interests in the new Register of Members' Interests with the Clerk of the House of Assembly.

The final holdout may no longer want to be in Parliament, and could face disciplinary measures, according to MP Trevor Moniz who led a six-year campaign to establish the register.

"El James says `go fish'. He ain't going to do it. He says it's none of your business,'' said Mr. Moniz.

Mr. Moniz explained that the House could discipline those who refuse to comply but the only real penalty is public disgrace and suspending the rebels from the House.

"That means their constituents would have no voice and they could lose their seats,'' said Mr. Moniz. "If you are a member of the House of Assembly you have to abide by the rules otherwise you don't want to be a member anymore.

Ask him (James) if he wants to run for a second term.'' But Mr. Moniz, who is estranged from the United Bermuda Party, admitted that there wasn't a clear disciplinary process. "Really, it's an honour system,'' he said. "It would be nice if there was a clearer disciplinary code for breaking the rules.'' When contacted, Mr. James said essentially that Mr. Moniz is entitled to his opinions. He wouldn't say whether he intended running for another term in the House, but he did reveal a strong reluctance to file his form.

"I might fill it in,'' he told The Royal Gazette .

James resists revealing his financial interests "Basically I don't see why there is any reason for me to fill it in,'' Mr.

James said. "I was voted in on my integrity.'' Asked if he was intent on breaking the rules of the House, he softened his stance and said: "I'm going to hand it in. How about that?'' Government backbencher Stanley Morton, who handed his form in just before press time yesterday, said he had simply been too busy to get the form in earlier.

"There wasn't any degree of urgency,'' he said. "I wasn't going anywhere and I have nothing to hide.'' Members of the House and Senate are expected to submit any changes to their listed interests within a month. Most of the Island's politicians missed the December 8 deadline for submitting their forms.

Mr. Moniz revealed he had made a submission to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials on the Island this week that the Register be entrenched in the Constitution.

The submission seemed to have been well-received, he said. And he pointed out that the UK government had already that very point in a 19-point "Modernisation'' checklist for constitutional reform for Overseas Territories.

Mr. Moniz' six-year campaign to establish the Register of Interests finally triumphed last November.

He said the final version of the questionnaire politicians are required to fill in was a much watered-down compromise.

"Even those who thought it a good thing in theory grew somewhat reluctant when they saw how it would apply to themselves,'' said Mr. Moniz.

"In my own view the expectation of the voters and the people are higher in terms of integrity, transparency and accountability.'' Honour system: Trevor Moniz Integrity: El James