Premier Paula Cox last night tabled a resolution which would cut legislators' salary by five percent for a year.

But the resolution tabled exempts retiring MPs and Ashfield DeVent's name is listed with six other legislators known to be retiring from the House of Assembly.

Mr DeVent heard he was retiring for the first time as Ms Cox read out the list of exempted MPs in the House of Assembly last night.

Rolfe Commissiong defeated Mr DeVent and two others in the contest to be selected the ruling party's general election candidate for Pembroke South East which Mr DeVent currently represents.

Under new candidate selection rules, the party branches have the final say over who runs in a general election, unless there are extraordinary circumstances.

Despite Mr Commissiong's decisive win over Mr DeVent, branch executives and other members of the party hierarchy were said to be concerned that Mr Commissiong may not be able to keep the seat for the PLP.

Some had hoped that Party Leader Paula Cox would overturn the outcome of the selection process. Mr DeVent declined to comment when approached by

The Royal Gazette last night.

In a recent interview, he has not ruled out running as an independent if he is not selected as the party's candidate.

“The thought of running as an independent is not beyond me,” said Mr DeVent. “I think the voters of this country need a choice based on (a candidate's) background, what they stand for and what they represent.”