Progressive Labour Party activist Rolfe Commissiong has been suspended from meetings of the party's Central Committee and Parliamentary Committee amid a row over a newspaper interview.

And he has been asked to appear before a special disciplinary committee to discuss the interview, carried in The Royal Gazette's sister paper, The Mid-Ocean News.

Party general secretary Walter Robain stressed that Mr. Commissiong, a one-time PLP by-election candidate, had not been permanently axed from party office.

He said: "The Central Committee was concerned about the article and feel that, in light of the circumstances, Mr. Commissiong should be spoken to.

"The Central Committee doesn't have that role but our constitution has provision for a committee which can be convened for disciplinary matters.'' He added: "He is still a member of the PLP and can take part in all the activities of the party -- he can attend the conference and participate in campaigns and any other activities of the party.'' The special committee has the power to recommend disciplinary action, including expulsion.

Mr. Robain declined to say what the party took exception to concerning the interview or to speculate on what the disciplinary committee's recommendations might be.

But The Royal Gazette understands the committee is unlikely to take drastic action.

Mr. Robain said: "There has been no suggestion of any particular penalties and they will make a recommendation after he has been spoken to. They may make any disciplinary recommendation. That could mean doing nothing.

"We are a compassionate party and we try not to act harshly in connection with our members.'' Mr. Commissiong told the Mid-Ocean News that his prediction was that Independence would come to the Island "because Bermuda would have no choice''.

And he said it was "premature'' to discuss renewal of the no tax guarantee given to international companies. The pledge expires in 2016.

Mr. Commissiong said both main political parties needed to examine whether international companies "are contributing their fair share to the people's coffers''.

Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith has ruled out another look at Independence in the forseeable future. The option was overwhelmingly rejected after a Referendum in 1995.

Mr. Commissiong did not respond, despite several telephone calls from The Royal Gazette .

But in a broadcast report last night, he urged both political parties to boycott the Mid-Ocean News -- and The Royal Gazette .