After over two years in the political wilderness, parliamentarian Trevor Moniz, has been formally stripped of his United Bermuda Party (UBP) credentials.

"The elected members of the United Bermuda Party Parliamentary Caucus yesterday declined by majority vote to reinstate the Party Whip to Trevor Moniz, Member of Parliament for Smith's South," according to a UBP press statement released yesterday.

The decision means that Mr. Moniz will not represent or speak on behalf of the party in Parliament, but will sit as an independent representative for Smith's South.

Mr. Moniz was suspended in October 1999 for "his failure to attend and participate in regular meetings of Caucus and sittings of the House of Assembly," according to the statement.

Often critical of his own party, Mr. Moniz had nevertheless expressed his desire to remain within the fold.

His formal application to be reinstated, made last August, led to Wednesday's vote, according to the party.

"In accordance with the UBP Constitution, the request was forwarded to the UBP Caucus Procedures Committee. They interviewed Mr. Moniz and submitted their support to the Parliamentary Caucus for consideration," stated the release.

"The request for reinstatement and the report of the Caucus Procedures Committee were thoroughly discussed. A secret ballot was held among the elected members of the Parliamentary Caucus, and, by a majority vote, the elected members declined to reinstate the party whip to Mr. Moniz."

Mr. Moniz led a years long effort to establish a register of interests for parliamentarians - some observers say the campaign, which finally succeeded, rankled a number of colleagues on both sides of the House.

Personal differences with former Premier and Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon were also said to play a part in the two year stand-off.

Party insiders said that the maverick MP was perceived as not being a team player. During debate of the Historic Wrecks Act at the last Parliamentary session, Mr. Moniz declared his interests as a trustee of the Maritime Museum, saying he wholeheartedly supported the Government's version of the bill - before stepping out of the chamber to observe proceedings from the public gallery.

A vote on a UBP proposed amendment to that bill failed.

The terse press statement was all the comment the UBP wanted to make publicly as of last night. Caucus chairman Michael Dunkley said further comments would have to come from the party's leader Grant Gibbons.

Neither Opposition Leader Dr. Grant Gibbons nor Mr. Moniz returned phone calls by press time last night.