Last night's disastrous Hamilton East by-election result could push back the date for this year's General Election to allow the ruling United Bermuda Party time to lick its wounds.

It was speculated that the Country could go to the polls as early as the spring -- but the massive defeat for Government by the Opposition Progressive Labour Party may mean an autumn election.

Even the fact that ex-Government Senate leader Gary Pitman just about held his own in the Pembroke West tussle against developer Rodney Smith of the Progressive Labour Party could not take the shine off the Opposition's win.

For the UBP's Hamilton East candidate Francis Furbert was crushed under the well-oiled wheels of a slick PLP bandwagon carrying Bermuda Industrial Union leader Derrick Burgess to a seat in the House of Assembly today.

And even Premier Pamela Gordon admitted her team had miscalculated its effort.

She said: "I'll be very frank -- I have to commend the Progressive Labour and Derrick Burgess in particular for their hard work and the kind of machinery they had in place.'' Jubilant PLP leader Jennifer Smith, however, was last night ready to move on to the big one.

She said: "I'm very happy that the people of Hamilton Parish have responded to the work the PLP has done over the years and to the type of candidates we have fielded.

"Finally -- after 35 years of trying -- we have established that there are people who have faith and trust in us. We're looking forward to the next General Election.'' And a beaming Derrick Burgess insisted: "The people of Hamilton Parish have spoken -- they want a change in Government.'' Later, Ms Gordon told a gathering of the Pembroke West faithful: "We have some serious work to do.'' And she hinted that she may yet go ahead and call an early General Election, despite the Hamilton East result.

She said: "When we decide to call the next General Election -- which may be sooner than you all may think -- it would be nice to have an overall victory.'' And she called on party workers "not to take the voters for granted''.

Ms Gordon added there were "very definite'' lessons to be learned from the crushing defeat.

Ms Gordon said: "The UBP utilised the standard operating procedures and we recognise that we have to put things in a higher gear and move it to a different level.'' But she tried to put a brave face on the defeat in the seat formerly held by the PLP duo of Shadow Health and Social Services Minister Renee Webb and ex-PLP MP turned Independent Trevor Woolridge, whose decision to quit caused the by-election.

Ms Gordon said: "We didn't have it, so we would have been elated if we'd gained it. But you can't get despondent about something you didn't have in the first place.'' The overwhelmingly black constituency, with a reputation for being church-going, close knit and conservative, kicked over the traces in a seat which has swung back and forth between the two main parties and the National Liberal Party over the years.

Mr. Burgess notched up a whopping 701 votes (65.5 percent) to Mr. Furbert's 369 votes (34.5 percent) -- massively increasing Rev. Woolridge's previous majority, although comparison is difficult in Bermuda's twin-seat constituencies.

Mr. Burgess appeared to pick up most of the 241 voters who plumped for the National Liberal Party's Gilbert Darrell in 1993.

Ms Smith said, however: "I don't know what National Liberal Party voters there were.'' And race was said to be a major factor in the 1993 General Election, which saw the PLP take a UBP/NLP split seat.

Ms Gordon admitted: "There is a perception that if you are in the UBP and black, you're being controlled by white business.

"Race will play a very dominant role in the General Election -- but the people of Bermuda must decide what will be in their best interests for the future.

"We believe that the United Bermuda Party will act in the best interests of the people of this Country.'' The UBP retained Pembroke West and Ms Smith also insisted that the low turnout in Pembroke West sent a clear message to Government.

She said: "The job that has to be done in Pembroke West, from the low numbers now that the voters have forsaken the UBP, is for our candidate to work to restore their faith in representation.'' New UBP MP Gary Pitman -- who took 604 votes (60.1 percent) insisted the vote of 1,012 was on par with the by-election in the same seat late last year.

Rodney Smith notched up 400 votes (39.9 percent) up 3.4 percent on the November contest.

Mr. Pitman admitted: "It was his second time around, so it was a bit intimidating -- but it was great I was able to maintain the vote and I'm looking forward to the next General Election.'' And Ms. Gordon pointed out the UBP had maintained its vote -- but said confusion over would-be rival primary candidate Wayne Soares, who was time-barred from standing, may have "hurt'' the Government vote.