The call came at a UBP caucus meeting to thrash out possible changes to the party's constitution.

But it did not meet with the approval of everybody who turned up at UBP headquarters.

"I disagreed with it. It seems they don't like us telling people what is happening,'' said rebel UBP MP Clarence Terceira.

The meeting -- which attracted about 30 people, including several Cabinet Ministers -- was a continuation of talks which began last Thursday.

It reportedly broke up after about three hours without any resolution or vote.

If the constitutional amendments are accepted, the party's Central Executive would have the power to expel a UBP member if "the member is guilty of undesirable conduct or is no longer supportive of the aims and objectives of the Party''.

It would also be able to expel an MP if "the member has voted against the Party whip in the House of Assembly or the Senate on two or more occasions in any one calendar year''.

The "People's Five'' -- rebel MPs D. Terceira, Trevor Moniz, David Dyer, Ann Cartwright DeCouto and C.V. (Jim) Woolridge, who defied a party whip to back an anti-McDonald's bill -- have seen the proposed amendments as a bid to muzzle them.

Last night, Dr. Terceira and Mr. Woolridge said they left the caucus meeting early.

"The meeting was dragging on and on and I had enough. I quietly filtered out and I really don't know what transpired after that,'' said Dr. Terceira. "We put our cases forward again and whether the message is getting through I don't know.

He added: "They started by saying nobody should go to the Press. It seems they don't like us telling people what's happening.

"But with something as serious as this the public wants to know what's happening. That's my view.''