FIVE opposition MPs have said they were unfazed over being put to sit separately from other UNC MPs in the House of Representatives, and promised to uphold "UNC principles."

These were Tabaquite MP Anita Haynes-Alleyne, Naparima MP Rodney Charles, Mayaro MP Rushton Paray, Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Dr Rai Ragbir, and Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally.

In the September 9 sitting, the quintet walked into the chamber at 2.03 pm and took their seats at the far end of the bench from the whip's seat.

This seeming sequestration provoked visible merriment from Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales, who was seen laughing and pointing in their direction.

Paray mustered a good-natured smile, but a reserved and subdued one, for Gonzales, as did Rambally. Haynes-Alleyne was beaming.

UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar was not seen in the chamber. Later, Newsday tried but was unable to contact opposition whip David Lee.

Afterwards Haynes-Alleyne told reporters that after the UNC internal elections – in which Paray led the UP team which unsuccessfully vied for national executive posts against a slate backed by Persad-Bissessar – she had got word of an intention to re-work the seating of the opposition benches. This comes after Newsday recently reported that the five MPs were not invited to a UNC election planning meeting on September 1.

Haynes-Alleyne said, "We were adamant from the beginning that it is more important to consider where you stand in politics than where you sit.

"So the seating arrangements will not really have any major impact, save and except as my colleague MP Rambally has said, the seriousness of the debate has moved to the front of the bench on the other side" (that is, the last five seats on the opposition bench).

The five were notified of the seating changes earlier that day, without any reason given, presumably by a decision from the opposition leadership.

Haynes-Alleyne said, "All five of us are together. In life you find yourself in groupings where like minds attract each other. So we really are not fazed by the move at all."

Asked about speculation about a breakaway faction, she said the UP team's philosophy had been that a stronger UNC would benefit Trinidad and Tobago.

"That remains true. Where we can strengthen the UNC is over the course of our parliamentary terms of ensuring the debate is robust and the Government is held to account. No matter where you sit in Parliament, you are able to do that."

Asked were they saw themselves in the UNC going forward, she replied, "Standing strong."

Asked if they remained committed to the party, she replied, "We remain committed to the principles of the UNC, which is to put people at the centre of development."

Reporters asked about their prospects to be UNC candidates in next year's general election.

Haynes-Alleyne said, "When we embarked on a journey to strengthen the UNC we were cognisant at the time. The most important thing for us to get good governance in TT. The way to do that is get a good government elected, so we embarked on