May 7 primary in Pembroke West Central.

Environment Minister and Deputy Premier the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto, adopted candidate Mr. Elroy Ratteray and Mr. Jerome Dill are fighting the primary, and will take each other on at a forum tonight.

The two winners of the primary will represent the UBP in the constituency in the next general election. Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto and Independent Mr. Stuart Hayward are the incumbent MPs.

Branch chairman Mr. Colin Young said the final tally of UBP members was being completed but the number of members was more than 700.

The final figure is likely to signify almost half the registered voters in the constituency. In the 1989 election, there were 1,619 registered voters, of whom 1,247 took part in the election -- a turnout of 77 percent.

Mr. Dill, a lawyer, sparked the primary when he challenged Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto and Mr. Ratteray, a long time party activist. Mr. Ratteray was adopted by the branch committee as a candidate last year.

Mr. Young said the candidates will hold a forum tonight at Pembroke Sunday School at 8 p.m.

The forum, which will be moderated by Mr. John Barritt, the adopted candidate for the UBP in Devonshire South, will see each candidate speak for no more than 10 minutes and it will then be thrown open to the floor for questions.

The primary campaign has been quiet so far. The most controversial incident has been the endorsement of Mr. Dill by UBP youth wing Leaders of Tomorrow last week.

Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto and Mr. Ratteray said the endorsement could cause factionalism within the party.

All three candidates said their canvassing was going well. Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said the most topical complaints on the campaign trail were over the problems surrounding the Prison Service.

"There are many people expressing concerns about the prison service,'' she said. "I share those concerns.''