an hour yesterday to discuss the eligibility of Dr. Ewart Brown MP and will meet again next week, says Speaker of the House the Hon. Ernest DeCouto.

Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade and Shadow Works & Engineering Minister Mr. Walter Roberts -- the two Progressive Labour Party MPs on the committee -- did not attend, he said.

The committee was holding "an exploratory meeting'' in response to a June 8 report in The Royal Gazette which said Dr. Brown won election for the PLP in Warwick West in the 1993 general election in apparent breach of Bermuda's Constitution.

Dr. Brown, a longtime California resident and physician, obtained US citizenship in 1990 by pledging allegiance to the United States. The Constitution says that anyone who has pledged allegiance to a foreign power is ineligible to seek election as an MP.

Mr. DeCouto confirmed that he had received advice from Attorney General Mr.

Elliott Mottley. He would not disclose what that advice was.