Pembroke West by election. However the messages are somewhat obscured by the fact that the turnout of voters was low: 56.9 percent of the registered voters compared to 76.6 percent at the last general election.

That is not unusual at a by election, especially one in a safe seat constituency. However, as we see it, the low turnout itself could contain the message that voters are fed up with the behaviour of both political parties and some could have stayed home in protest. Despite the optimism of the candidates, we understand that they received many messages on the doorsteps that the people are unhappy with both parties.

While the UBP had a clear win with a candidate who is probably not as strong as Dr. David Dyer whom he is replacing, the result was not as strong as the UBP might have hoped so close to a general election. That may not be an entirely bad thing for the UBP because it sends the message that they have a great deal of hard work to do before they take the Country to the polls.

Premier Pamela Gordon herself may well have stated the problem when she said: "We're very pleased, especially in light of a lot of controversy we have had to deal with over the last few weeks.'' There has been a great deal of controversy for the UBP but the PLP has also had its share of terrible publicity over the Rev. Trevor Woolridge.

Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith expressed herself as "very pleased'' with the result and she had some cause for that fact. She said, "The result is helpful to us -- we knew this was an area which needed some work.'' The new PLP candidate slightly better than held his own in a safe UBP seat and Ms.

Smith was bound to be pleased by that. She must also have taken some heart from the success of the openly PLP candidates in the St. George's Corporation election where they did well. However perhaps her spirits were dampened by the relatively poor showing of her own running mate, PLP MP Leon (Jimmy) Williams in his run for the St. George's Common Council. While he won, his vote was not strong in the Old Town which is part of his own parliamentary constituency.

The strongest message from Pembroke West was the one to the National Liberal Party. Its leader Charles Jeffers did poorly in the Devonshire South by-election to replace David Saul and now Graeme Outerbridge has received a token 34 votes in Pembroke West. The voters are clearly telling the NLP that they have virtually no support in the Country. Perhaps there just is no room in Bermuda today for a third party. The voters do not see themselves as having the luxury of a wasted protest vote.