Leader of Government Business Roodal Moonilal said yesterday he planned to meet with St Joseph MP Herbert Volney today to discuss the implications of his decision to withdraw from the whip.

"When you do that, you are also effectively out of the Government," Moonilal stated. "And therefore cannot depend on your parliamentary colleagues for support and your ministerial colleagues for assistance," he said.

"If we don't co-ordinate our position in the Parliament, then we would not be in a position to assist colleagues and work as a team," he said.

He added that in any matter if Volney is not guaranteed to support the Government then the Government's support for him could also not be guaranteed.

"Perhaps before the sitting, I would invite Mr Volney for a private meeting over a cup of tea," Moonilal he said.

Moonilal said if he is not under the whip, Volney would have to catch the eye of the Speaker if he is to intervene in a debate. "And he is sitting quite a distance from the Speaker. I am not sure if he would be able to do that," he said.

Since becoming a backbencher, Volney's name tag has been placed on the chair farthest from the Speaker.

Moonilal who said he is in touch with Volney almost every single day, said Volney had sent him an e-mail late on Wednesday afternoon indicating that he (Volney) had a walkabout and his constituents were concerned about his dismissal but wanted him to remain as a member of the UNC, without the protection of the Whip.

Moonilal said it meant Volney would be representing the party but without the discipline of the Parliament. "That is why I need to speak with him, to clarify (his position)," he said.

Vasant Bharath, speaking at yesterday's post-Cabinet meeting, said a team would be meeting with Volney today.