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Rebel MP Trevor Moniz yesterday jabbed an accusing finger at Premier David Saul over proposed changes to the UBP's constitution.

He suspected Dr. Saul had ordered the amendments to muzzle party dissidents dubbed the "People's Five'' -- despite the Premier's denials.

Mr. Moniz believed the committee calling for changes had originally been formed to probe a controversy over ineligible voters at a UBP primary in 1994.

Now that committee had veered off on a completely different track -- presumably on Dr. Saul's instructions, he added.

"It is very curious. It disturbs me that this committee is not doing the job it's supposed to do, without any apparent instructions from anyone.

"So why is it doing it? Either somebody isn't being truthful or the committee has gone off on some frolic on its own.

"One has to assume the instructions came from party leader. Where else would they have come from?'' Mr. Moniz saw no reason to back Dr. Saul's claim the dissidents and party leaders were close to a solution.

"I have seen no indication of any movement since we met in July. There have been no substantive changes by Government.'' Dr. Saul could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

Last week he told The Royal Gazette the suggestion for constitutional changes had come from UBP officers and branch chairmen. And nobody should take it personally.

"The party constitution is constantly being changed and there should be no problems with this.'' Mr. Moniz's comments come on the eve of this evening's caucus meeting at United Bermuda Party's Chancery Lane headquarters to discuss the proposed amendments.

The meeting -- scheduled to start at 5.30 p.m. -- is a continuation of talks last Thursday which broke up without any resolution.

If the constitutional amendments are accepted, the party's Central Executive would have the power to expel a UBP member if "the member is guilty of undesirable conduct or is no longer supportive of the aims and objectives of the Party''.

It would also be able to expel an MP if "the member has voted against the Party whip in the House of Assembly or the Senate on two or more occasions in any one calendar year''.

The "People's Five'' -- Mr. Moniz, David Dyer, Clarence Terceira, Ann Cartwright DeCouto and C.V. (Jim) Woolridge -- have seen the proposed amendments as a lurch to the right.

The group have been at the centre of controversy since defying a party whip to back an anti-McDonald's bill -- the Prohibited Restaurants Act.

The Act passed the House of Assembly last session after the rebels joined forces with the Opposition Progressive Labour Party to kill former Premier Sir John Swan's bid to open a McDonald's burger joint in Bermuda.

The Act later stalled in the Senate, but the rebels vowed to reintroduce it in the coming Parliamentary session.

Last week, party rebels met Dr. Saul, Deputy Premier Jerome Dill and Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness at the Cabinet Office to discuss the Prohibited Restaurants Act. But there was no breakthrough.

Yesterday, Mr. Moniz said he understood the committee investigating the party's constitution was set up in the aftermath of the Paget East primary "travesty''.

Moniz accuses Saul From Page 1 Critics said the dates of the Paget East by-election and UBP primary were orchestrated to favour Grant Gibbons -- seen as the then Premier Sir John Swan's anointed choice to succeed longtime running mate, the late MP John Stubbs.

Paget East UBP chairman Campbell McBeath announced the party's primary for the July 14 by-election would be held on June 28. He further announced that those who wanted to vote in the primary had only four hours to sign up -- until midnight that night.

By the time Paget East residents read the news in The Royal Gazette , the deadline had passed, leaving many ineligible to vote.

Said Mr. Moniz yesterday: "This constitutional committee was established in order to prevent such a recurrence.

"But they don't seem to have come out with recommendations in connection with that travesty.

"They have gone off on some other mission. Presumably, Dr. Saul directed them to do that.'' Mr. Moniz continued: "With respect to the changes which allow the Central Executive to expel a member, there is already presently in the constitution a provision which permits a form of discipline which can end up with an expulsion.

"It is driven from the branch level. The branch can call a special general meeting and take a vote on a recommendation that a person be expelled.

"For this to happen you need a two-thirds majority at branch and central level.

"Now they're planning on getting rid of this at branch level. The power just lies with central.'' He added: "This would seem to be a retrograde step.'' Mr. Moniz said the proposed changes were designed by party chiefs to neuter the "People's Five''.

"Clearly it's a desperation measure. The polls have shown we were popular in our constituencies.

"In their desire to get at `the five' they are doing serious damage to the party and the Country as a whole.''