MPs under fire for failing to back Government's choice By Paul Egan The United Bermuda Party's branch chairman in Pembroke West expressed unhappiness yesterday with the constituency's two MPs, who refused last week to support Government's choice for Deputy Speaker.

"We'd like the Government to basically govern and take things forward and not have any dissension,'' Mr. Hal Masters told The Royal Gazette .

The two Pembroke West MPs -- Dr. David Dyer and Dr. Clarence Terceira -- were among five Government backbenchers who abstained in last week's voting. Dr.

Terceira has dubbed the group, made up of former Tourism Minister Mr. C.V.

(Jim) Woolridge and four MPs who supported him for the UBP leadership, "The People's Five.'' Another vote for Deputy Speaker is to be held in the House of Assembly today, with Mrs. Bell again expected to be the Government nominee.

While dismissing rumours of a Pembroke West primary, Mr. Masters said he had heard concerns from some "frustrated'' voters in the constituency.

"If you have your differences, you deal with them in house,'' Mr. Masters said. "It's a pity that everything is public.

"I have talked to one of the sitting MPs and I have passed back my personal concerns, and also the concerns of other constituents,'' Mr. Masters said. "I have said they should get together and discuss it.'' Mr. Masters said he supported the two MPs in their opposition to Independence during the lead-up to the August 16 Independence referendum. And "a lot of the constituents were on side,'' he said.

"At the end of the day, the referendum failed and the party reorganised.'' He and many constituents felt the party should now unite and settle any differences internally.

One of the five dissidents, Smith's South MP Mr. Trevor Moniz, has said Premier David Saul made no sincere effort to reconcile with the anti-Independence group and unite the party.

But Mr. Masters said: "As far as I know...the party itself has made a sincere effort to bring everybody back into the fold.

"It would seem to me that the five who are staying outside the fold is the more difficult side of the equation.'' Dr. Dyer said yesterday that selection of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker is a matter for the House, and is not a partisan matter on which voting should follow party lines.

"Unfortunately, so many people just don't understand the Constitution, nor do they understand the political process,'' he said.

Election of the Deputy Speaker was a free vote.

Dr. Terceira could not be reached for comment.

In Pembroke West Central, newly-elected branch chairman Mr. Terry West said he had not heard any concerns about the actions of Mrs. Ann Cartwright DeCouto, another one of the five MPs.

Mr. David Tavares, branch chairman in Smith's South, where Mr. Moniz and Mr.

Woolridge sit, could not be reached for comment.