After a three-hour disciplinary meeting that he said went "very well", Member of Parliament Khemraj Ramjattan declared last night that he was still a member of the PPP.

That was all he had to say and General Secretary, Donald Ramotar was equally reticent telling Stabroek News, "at the moment it is still an internal party matter".

However, informed sources have told Stabroek News that it was decided that no statement would be made to the press until the executive committee had reached a decision on whether to expel Ramjattan or not.

Ramjattan faced the disciplinary hearing before the party's central executive committee because of remarks he made in a Stabroek News article published on January 31. The remarks were critical of the PPP's handling of the allegations against Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj and the rumours as to the reason why Foreign Trade Minister Clement Rohee has had to wait over two months for a US visa.

Officials at the meeting included President Bharrat Jagdeo who at a central committee meeting last week accused Ramjattan of passing information to the US, British and Canadian missions.

PPP general secretary Donald Ramotar, Ralph Ramkarran, Reepu Daman Persaud, Clement Rohee, Harripersaud Nokta, Robert Persaud, Kellawan Lall and Komal Chand were also there. Those absent were Janet Jagan and Moses Nagamootoo.

A release from the party last Saturday said that members had expressed a lack of confidence participating in a meeting at which Central executive member Ramjattan was present. He left the meeting with President Jagdeo reportedly making the allegation as he left.

Ramjattan also faced a disciplinary hearing last year for remarks reportedly disrespectful of Jagdeo following his return from a World Bank-sponsored seminar.

Nagamootoo told Stabroek News that he stayed away because among other things he had raised a procedural point in relation to how the party was handling the matter.

He added that as an associate of Ramjattan (they share the same chambers in King Street) there could be an appearance of a conflict of interest. Moreover, he said that he felt there was a sufficient number of his peers who could handle the matter in a balanced way taking into consideration all the consequences that would flow from their decision.