referred last night to a caucus committee that deals with discipline.

Government Whip Mr. John Barritt said the United Bermuda Party caucus referred the matter to its procedures committee.

On Tuesday, Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto defied Government's three-line whip and abstained in a close vote on the Independence Referendum Act 1994.

The motion passed by a 20-18 vote and must clear the Senate before it becomes law.

Government wants to set up a Commission of Inquiry on Independence and hold a referendum on the issue by year's end.

Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto, who resigned as Delegated Affairs Minister to speak out against the plan, says Government has too many more important matters on its plate and talk of Independence will damage the economy.

At last night's caucus meeting her abstention "was raised and discussed briefly,'' Mr. Barritt said. "The issue did not exercise the members for very long.

"It was decided to refer the matter to our standing committee which deals with our matters of discipline, for them to review and report.'' No recommendation was sent to the five-member committee, nor was a deadline set for it to report, he said.

"If that's the system, that's the system,'' said Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto, adding that other obligations kept her away from the caucus meeting.

"I am quite prepared to be judged by my peers. I will make my case when the time comes.'' Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said the media attention being paid to her was "rather silly''.