his hat in the ring for the Devonshire South by-election.

And Mr. Jeffers announced Bermuda's third political party would be running a community-based campaign for ex-Premier David Saul's old seat.

He said: "Our main thrust is going to be the social issues -- drugs are just a symptom of a much bigger problem.

"And if we are going to rid the Island of drugs, we are going to have to address the whole problem.

"There is an undercurrent of unrest which is sweeping this Island and if it's not properly addressed we are going to have some serious problems.'' But he said: "Although we may address the issues and the media give us good coverage, if we don't have anyone to take it to the floor of the House of Assembly, then it dies if the other two parties don't take it up.'' Mr. Jeffers added that the choice of the party chairman as candidate reflected how seriously the NLP was taking the by-election. He said: "There are those in the party who felt maybe I should wait and look for a safer area.

Jeffers prepared to put `everything on the line' "I said nowhere is safe for us. But I'm prepared to put everything on the line. A good showing is paramount for us. If we don't get that, then you have got another conversation.'' Mr. Jeffers said he had already started pounding the pavements, but that his campaign would kick off in earnest this week.

He added: "I believe that the voters in Devonshire South and voters generally have open minds going into a campaign this early.

"Naturally, because this particular by-election affects the people of Devonshire South they will probably have more of an interest in what's going on generally.'' Announcing Mr. Jeffers' nomination by the NLP, party deputy chairman Dessaline Waldron said: "We feel that his involvement of over 30 years in the church, community and political life of Bermuda brings a plus to the voters of Devonshire South that no other candidate brings.

"The NLP is confident that the Devonshire South electorate have, in our candidate, a respectable and viable choice.'' Mr. Jeffers also took aim at an editorial in Saturday's edition of The Royal Gazette .

The editorial asked whether the NLP was a "spoiler'' in Bermuda politics and questioned if it had a valid platform or philosophy or was just a group of people disenchanted with the two main parties, the ruling United Bermuda Party and the Progressive Labour Party.

The editorial also said that the NLP "supported Independence and espouse a review of the tax system while giving the impression that they are flirting with income tax.'' Mr. Jeffers said that it was interesting to note that the editorial was written "during the run-up to a by-election when voters are showing interest and giving some thought to their choice.'' He quoted the party's manifesto for 1993-94, saying that the document made it clear that there were pro- and anti-Independence viewpoints in the party and that the NLP had recommended a Referendum without taking one side or the other.

And he added, that while a review of the tax system was also recommended, the manifesto did not endorse income tax.

Mr. Jeffers said: "We have stated on more than one occasion that, although income tax in its sophisticated form is theoretically the fairest form of tax, in practice, those in the middle income bracket get hit the hardest.

"For that and other reasons, including the bureaucracy needed and the cost of collecting taxes, we do not favour income tax.'' Mr. Jeffers said: "It was the sort of editorial we normally look for on the eve of a General Election.

"This actually tells us we must be making at least a slight wave to get that sort of attention.'' Mr. Jeffers, 55, who was born in Devonshire, lived and worked in Canada for several years, returning to the Island in 1995.

He has twice run for the House of Assembly -- in 1983 for the PLP and in 1985 for the party he went on to lead.

Mr. Jeffers is director of community service with Pembroke Rotary Club, a trustee of the Adult Education School and a member of the First Church of God, North Shore, Pembroke.

He is owner/manager of the Jeffers Agency and a former member of the Youth Advisory Council, a founding member of both the Bermuda Road Safety Council and the Heritage Week Committee and an ex-Ambulance Division divisional officer with the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

The last elected NLP MP was former chairman Gilbert Darrell, who lost his Hamilton East seat in the election of October, 1993.

Mr. Jeffers will face either dairy chief Michael Dunkley or restaurauteur Joe Gibbons, who are set to fight it out in a primary for the UBP stronghold's nomination.

The PLP have not yet decided if the party will fight Devonshire South and Sir John's Swan's old Paget East seat, or who might be selected to run.

The NLP has already said it will concentrate its limited resources in a bid to put up a good show in Devonshire South.

Charles Jeffers