candidate for the United Bermuda Party last night.

Members of the UBP's Paget West branch officially accepted the ACE Ltd.

executive as their prospective MP in a Special General Meeting.

Top amateur golfer Ms Joell replaces the retiring MP Harry Soares, and will now run alongside Education Minister Tim Smith.

She said: "The people of Paget West can count on my full commitment and I look forward to getting to know the constituents and the issues specific to them.'' Mr. Smith praised his new running mate as "intelligent, articulate and very hardworking''.

Environment Minister Mr. Soares, constituency MP for 15 years, said the new Paget West team would be "a force to be reckoned with''.

He added: "My decision not to seek re-election was not an easy one. I count many of the constituents as friends and I will miss the interaction that I enjoyed with them.''