with the United Bermuda Party winning surprisingly comfortably after some nail-biting.

And it means an end, for the moment at least, to the controversial term of Mr.

Julian Hall as a Progressive Labour Party Member of Parliament.

Mr. Hall accused the UBP of flying in students from the United States to oust him personally.

The United Bermuda Party candidates Mr. Maxwell Burgess and Mr. Wayne Furbert hugged their supporters in delight after a count which had them 30 votes behind at one point.

But Mr. Burgess's prediction of a win by at least 60 votes proved spot on as he ousted top PLP man Mr. Eugene Blakeney by 70.

First timer Mr. Furbert was particularly delighted after campaigning for the party since the age of 14.

He said: "It is a dream come true for me. I have always wanted to be able to work for the people of Hamilton West. Now I can do that.'' Former MP for the constituency Mr. Burgess said he had gone against the advice of people who said he should not stand again in Hamilton West after losing last time.

He said: "It is as I predicted. I knew the voters of Hamilton West would come through because of all the work we have done in the area.

"We were behind at the start but we knew that we would come through when the traditional votes started to come in.

'' Early in the count the PLP were well ahead but as the final 200 votes were counted Mr. Burgess took the lead and Mr. Furbert received a huge majority of the final votes counted. After close votes throughout the count the UBP men received 15 straight at one stage of the last quarter of the count.

Neither Mr. Hall nor Mr. Blakeney are sure of their political futures but both are keen to stand again.

Mr. Hall said: "In Hamilton West this is not so much a victory for the UBP as a victory for The Royal Gazette and for disinformation.

"The message that was sent to the voters of Hamilton West was that Julian Hall and Eugene Blakeney did not care about them.

"I admit that I have been involved in a lot of national issues but Mr.

Blakeney and I have worked hard in the constituency.'' A disappointed Mr. Hall went on to state how the "UBP machine'' had mobilised its supporters in Hamilton West. He said: "They even flew in 20 private jet planes to bring students in to vote for them.

"I do not know whether that was just to boost their support or was it really to get Julian Hall out of Parliament?'' RESULTS Maxwell Burgess (UBP) 564 Wayne Furbert (UBP) 544 Eugene Blakeney (PLP) 494 Julian Hall (PLP) 487 Void ballots 8.

OCTOBER 1993 ELECTION