the Pembroke West Central seat she lost at last year's General Election.

Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto -- together with former Minister Jerome Dill -- were both backed by their branch of the Opposition UBP at a special meeting. The two lost their seats in the PLP landslide a year ago to Neletha Butterfield and Wayne Perinchief -- but with just over 100 votes separating all four candidates.

Branch chairman Robert Stubbs confirmed last night: "We have readopted and affirmed our support for our adopted candidates.'' Ms Cartwright DeCouto -- a five-term MP and former Minister -- was one of the five-strong group of anti-Independence rebels who split the then-Government in 1995. The rebels later went to war with their own party again over ex-UBP Premier Sir John Swan's bid to open a McDonald's fast food outlet on the Island.

The rebels were blamed by some for at least part of the responsibility for the UBP's poor showing -- a claim denied by Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto.

And there was speculation the branch might come under pressure to dump Mrs.

Cartwright DeCouto following the withdrawal of the UBP Whip from fellow-rebel Trevor Moniz, who retained his seat in 1998.

Mr. Stubbs said: "That certainly didn't arise -- the complaint about Trevor Moniz was that he wasn't attending caucus meetings. Both our candidates are seen as two of the UBP's stronger candidates and Pembroke West Central is happy to support both of them. We haven't had any criticism whatsoever.'' But out-in-the-cold Mr. Moniz said: "We are a party which has lost an election -- they are going to go through some problems. But I think they're both still two very good candidates.''