While the United Bermuda Party (UBP) is congratulating itself for having achieved a seamless transition between leaders, the "Trevor Moniz factor" remains unresolved, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Mr. Moniz had "nothing on the record" to say when contacted for comment about Pamela Gordon's resignation as leader of the United Bermuda Party.

"I didn't know she had stepped down until someone said `have you read the paper?'" he said.

Party chairman Wayne Furbert denied a suggestion that Mr. Moniz's continued ostracism puts a damper on the party's claims that it has become a cohesive, unified force.

"The party is unified and the issue with Mr. Moniz will be dealt with. We have a new leader in place now and that matter will be dealt with by the party caucus," Mr. Furbert said.

It's now exactly two years since the party whip was removed from the Smiths South MP. The move meant that he can not stand for election under the UBP banner and, until the whip is restored, is persona non grata.

The party's official line has been that Mr. Moniz was disciplined for not attending party meetings and being inconsistent with his attendance in the House of Assembly.

Mr. Moniz has in the past said that his six year effort to set up the Register of MPs Interests was opposed by some members of the parliamentary group.

And other observers attributed his circumstances to personal differences with outgoing party leader Pamela Gordon.

Whether Grant Gibbons, whose anannouncement as the new party leader will be made today, can break the impasse or is willing to bring Mr. Moniz back into the party fold, remains to be seen.

"You'd have to ask Grant Gibbons that," Mr. Moniz said. And he reminded The Royal Gazette that Dr. Gibbons was Finance Minister when former Premier David Saul was censured by Parliament over the McDonald's controversy, and had given permission to former Premier Sir John Swan to set up Grape Bay Limited for the purpose of establishing a McDonalds franchise on the Island.

Mr. Moniz was one of the leaders against the effort to introduce the hamburger chain to the Island.

"It remains to be seen how he's going to operate," Mr. Moniz said. "Suffice it to say I've had no calls from them."

And Mr. Moniz has no opinion as to whether the new leader will make the call and make what some see as the party's final break with a past characterised by divisiveness. "I don't think anything anymore," he said. "I'm juts here to do what I do - that's about it."

Dr. Gibbons could not be reached for comment.