election have boosted to six the tally of women Members of Parliament.

Although the newcomers will be sitting on opposite sides of the House floor, they agree that this ratio of representation is still woefully inadequate. It seems out of line in a population where 52 percent of the work force and 53 percent of the electorate are women, they say.

They also agree that by concentrating their attention on so-called "women's issues'' will not necessarily advance the case for women in politics.

The Hon. Pamela Gordon, who held the UBP seat for Southampton West, and had the satisfaction of seeing her party returned to power -- if only by a whisker, says: "I feel that if a country is doing something right, there is no such thing as women's issues. There should be no question that if a woman does the same job as a man, she should be paid the same.'' Men, she says, have to understand that the contribution of women in the work force is significant and important, and that their careers should not be placed in jeopardy when they have children. The male employer, she contends, still has to realistically come to terms with such issues as maternity leave.

Ms Renee Webb who, despite seeing her party once again defeated at the polls, wrested Hamilton East from the UBP and NLP incumbents to secure the first PLP victory there since 1976, echoes this sentiment. "Whatever portfolio I get, women will naturally form part of my platform because I think it's important that women be treated the same as men,'' she says.

Violence against women, she says, is indicative of what is happening to women in general. Unemployment has played its part in the increase of substance abuse, and she feels that the ensuing frustrations are taken out on those closest to them. "Too often, it is the women who bear the brunt,'' says Ms Webb.

The increase of female MPs from four to six is a step in the right direction, notes Ms Webb. It is "encouraging, but in real terms we still don't have enough. A lot of women have found it difficult to juggle a job, raising kids and getting involved in politics. But men are beginning to help out and I hope we will see more and more women getting involved,'' she says.

Ms Gordon, a divorced mother of two, knows all too well just how difficult it can be.

"It is a real sacrifice for women. Most women do a trade-off, taking a back seat on their careers, their families suffer and there's no such thing as a private life, in politics,'' says Ms Gordon. For all that, she says, she is thrilled to have been elected to serve her country. She will not be drawn on the question of her future role in the House.

"I shall be very happy with whatever is offered me. The Premier may decide it would be best for the team if I sat on the back benches. I don't have personal ambitions,'' Ms Gordon says, confirming that she may be new, but already understands the language of politics. Seconds later, she goes so far as to concede that "it is possible'' that, having already had a Ministry of her own, she may be offered a Cabinet position.

"But the important thing is that the Government heard the message of the election,says Ms Gordon. "I think the longer it takes to decide the Cabinet, the better, because things have changed and we have to go with the flow.'' Her mother has helped look after her ten year old son, Ronald, ever since she entered the political world. "If it were not for her, I couldn't have done any of this,'' she admits.

For the daughter of legendary Bermuda Industrial Union founder Mr. E. F.

Gordon, the path to political triumph has not, in personal terms, been easy.

Married and the mother of a baby girl at just 17, she had to fit her own education in, as and when she could. After attending Berkeley Institute, she went on to Alma College in Ontario, Canada. She is proud that her daughter, Veronica, is just months away from sitting her law finals in England.

Ms Gordon never knew her father, and she pays tribute to the values her mother instilled in her as a child. "She was a very strong person. She used to tell me the only thing I had was my good name -- and to take care of it. If you can't pay for something, go without, she would tell me.'' And, she adds, her mother used to remind her never to "get above'' herself, to remember where she had come from, because there would always be someone around to remind her.

"Both of my children were so excited that I won! My son sat up and watched the whole thing on TV. And when I finally got home, he rushed to the door and told me all the results,'' she recalls.

Offering thoughts on the particular significance of last week's election, Ms Webb says: "This is the first election where black professional people have come out and admitted support for the PLP. Before, they have been frightened of being ostracised or fired.'' Ms Webb, who holds degrees in political science and international affairs from Canadian and French universities and who worked for Politicians prepare to accomplish goals United Nations Educational and Cultural organisation (UNESCO) in Paris, says that she experienced discrimination while working for a local bank after returning from living abroad for nine years.

"At the last election, I was on the executive floor (of the bank) and 14 out of 17 were canvassing. I was the only one working for the PLP and I was told I would go nowhere in the bank if I was PLP.'' Soon after that, she parted company with the bank and now runs a retail business, sells real estate and also runs a small business management service.

"I support full-time politicians, Bermudians are being short-changed, and public money is being wasted -- there are too many seat-warmers in the House.'' Both women agree that the days of politics for the wealthy are now over.

"None of the women who were elected are what you would call independently wealthy,'' points out Ms Gordon. "The women who came before us were working women who came into politics at a time when women were second-class citizens.

We still have some way to go.'' Both women agree that local racial tensions must be addressed.

Ms Webb states the position bluntly: "The Premier and the UBP have decided they are going to break through the glass ceiling of racial discrimination, so it will be interesting to see what programmes, if any, are put in place.'' Change will not come without education, declares Ms Webb. She is calling for the implementation of new programmes that will make people aware of their differences, but also their commonality. The Island needs to be sensitised on the subject of discrimination. Talking is no longer enough, she declares; anti-racist seminars are essential.

Says Ms Gordon: "We have to find a way to fix the race problem if we are going to move forward. Race has to cease being a dominant factor in the way people think and behave. Bermuda has changed a great deal, there are many mixed marriages now. We are just too small a community to have race separating us. The whole of society has got to stop playing this race card.'' Meanwhile, both new MPs are gearing up for what promises to be a gruelling parliamentary session.

"I expected to win Hamilton East because I worked so hard for it. So I'm happy about that,'' says Ms Webb. "Naturally, I'm very disappointed my party didn't win the election. In a way, it's going to be hard, being the Opposition, instead of leading the country in a new direction. I prefer to be in the driving seat! But I think it's going to be very lively up there!'' For her part, Ms Gordon hopes that Government will place priority on the ever-present problem of drug abuse in the community. Drugs, she says, are the source of most of the Island's problems.

"I would like to see testing for drugs in the workplace, especially people such as bus drivers, prison officials and the Police. And I'm hoping that members of the House will set an example on this by also being tested,'' says Ms Gordon.

Government, says Ms Gordon, has perhaps been too timid in not wanting to upset people: "People don't like change, but some changes are necessary. We have to educate people to accept change in several areas. But we need to explain the reasons, not dictate, but to get people to understand why certain steps are necessary, and then I think they will support us.'' RAIN OF VICTORY -- Ms Renee Webb braved steady rain to greet constituents of Hamilton East on election day. Her vigil paid off, for the newcomer to politics topped that poll.

VICTORY PARTY -- The Hon. Pamela Gordon and running-mate Mr. David Dodwell (centre) celebrate their Southampton West success at the election night party.