Pembroke community leader Charles Jeffers believes the United Bermuda Party "could get wiped right out" as disgruntled supporters of both parties shun tomorrow's Constituency 16 by-election.

Mr. Jeffers said the Progressive Labour Party could increase its massive majority in Pembroke East Central as residents, despite being unhappy with Government, refuse to back a party seen to be on its way out.

At the 2007 General Election, Keith Young of the UBP won just 13 percent of the votes against late Minister Nelson Bascome's 87 percent.

Mr. Young insists there's enough dissatisfaction with Government for him to record a shock victory over Michael Weeks at Victor Scott Primary School tomorrow.

However, former National Liberal Party leader Mr. Jeffers — now Pembroke Parish Council leader — told The Royal Gazette last night: "We expect that Michael Weeks will win.

"The UBP candidate could get a larger percentage of the vote, but I'm not sure. He could get wiped right out with an even smaller percentage; I would not be surprised if that happens. I think that should send the UBP a message.

"Let's say the UBP have never been strong in that area. The candidate is a very nice young man. I believe he has a lot of potential, but I don't think he will make an impact."

Mr. Jeffers said Mr. Weeks seems the better spoken of the two candidates, but that may not be enough to get PLP supporters to the polls in large numbers.

"I believe there's probably going to be a low voter turnout," he said. "A lot of people are disenchanted with politics. There's no chance that the PLP will lose the Government, like there was in the General Election, so a lot of people will feel they can't be bothered.

"It could also be a quiet one from supporters of the PLP who will stay away and send a message that they are not happy."

But Mr. Jeffers fears neither side would heed any message handed out by residents.

Regarding the PLP, he said: "As long as it's perceived there's no real chance that they could lose, whether it's a by-election or General Election, they are less likely to listen. They will only hear."

And of the UBP, he said: "On one hand, a few are still trying to get across the virtues of the party and the possibility they will bounce back. Other members are either backing away or they are not saying anything publicly. I think they are seeing what their options are."

He maintains the time is right for somebody to start a new party from the grassroots to provide a genuine alternative.

"Who is going to be the knight or dame in shining armour who will do that?" he asked.

Mr. Weeks and Mr. Young have both vowed that if elected they will work with the community to tackle growing gang problems which have plagued the constituency, particularly the St. Monica's Road area, where there has been a number of shooting incidents.

PLP's Weeks is taking nothing for granted

Michael Weeks isn't expected to have much trouble winning the by-election tomorrow — but families in Pembroke East Central made sure it wasn't always an easy ride as he canvassed their homes.

Mr. Weeks has maintained he's taking nothing for granted since being chosen ahead of a host of high-profile contenders to run for the Progressive Labour Party in former Health Minister Nelson Bascome's old patch.

There are some who argue Mr. Weeks might as well take everything for granted because it doesn't matter who the PLP fields in Constituency 16, or how much they canvass: they will still win.

But as The Royal Gazette joined Mr. Weeks meeting residents in Perimeter Lane, it quickly became clear: ultimate PLP stronghold or not, people were ready and willing to put their candidate on the spot.

One young man, a carpenter, complained he was unable to get a job, while all the Government work was being swallowed up by Premier Ewart Brown supporting MP Zane DeSilva.

"What can you do to benefit me?" asked the carpenter.

Mr. Weeks replied: "My son is going through the same thing. I'm going to stand up and make myself heard. I'm here because of my sons so you can believe it or not.

"It's more than being a part of the PLP. I have been in the community all my life. I have always been a social worker, helping people get jobs. I'm a soldier, I'm out there helping people."

The carpenter promptly shook Mr. Weeks by the hand and accepted his offer to send him an e-mail so that he can follow up his pledge.

Asked by this newspaper how he could help that man back into employment, Mr. Weeks said his plan for a community action team would be the catalyst to address a host of such issues.

"If we can come together as a community, we can talk. You see what the issues are," he said.

"Then we can help him with a kind word in someone's ear, get his resume out there — there are ways we can do it."

He added that more people need to be made aware of free education at Bermuda College which can help turn their lives around.

"Bermuda Government has done a major move, and people need to take advantage of it," he said.

In a constituency so heavily dominated by the PLP, Mr. Weeks' task wasn't so much to convince people which way to vote — it was to get them to the polling station full stop.

"Are you going to come out and vote?" Mr. Weeks would ask. Most replied yes, but some did so with all the eagerness of a teenager agreeing to mow his parents' lawn when there's a really good show on the television.

Mr. Weeks said crime, drugs and affordable housing had been key issues raised on his travels. The community action team, he says, will be the first step in tackling most of them.

The evening he was joined by The Royal Gazette, Mr. Weeks was accompanied by wife Cindy Weeks, PLP supporting Perimeter Lane resident Gina Trott and Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess.

The candidate had pledged to hit every house in the constituency in his campaign, and his backing from the party is such that some people had already been greeted by the canvassing team before.

Seasoned canvasser Mr. Burgess explained the importance of getting out into the constituency.

"You have to go to the people. That's the way I did it," he said. "You have to find out the concerns of everyone. That's your sounding board."

Underdog, but UBP’s Young is aiming high

If Keith Young gets 15 percent of the votes in tomorrow's by-election he can at least tell everyone he did better than last time.

But underdog Mr. Young is aiming higher than that. He believes enough people in Pembroke East Central are so disillusioned with Government they will change the habit of a lifetime and hand victory to the United Bermuda Party.

The 51-year-old has knocked on door after door in Constituency 16 in the past few weeks and has one simple response to whomever isn't happy with the way things are: send the Progressive Labour Party a message and vote for me.

When The Royal Gazette hit the Footpath Lane area with Mr. Young, constituents had plenty of local issues to complain about, and not just the gang problems which have blighted their community in recent months.

They needed somewhere to dump their trash; the walls protecting children from falling down a dangerous bank had crumbled away; fly-tippers had turned streets with beautiful views into eyesores; the local playground had become an overgrown no-go zone.

Mr. Young and his canvassing team of Opposition Leader Kim Swan and Senator Jeanne Atherden told people they should give the UBP a chance to put things right.

While nobody exactly invited the trio in and offered them a drink in a UBP mug, most nodded and agreed Government needs a kick up its backside.

But smiling to the UBP candidate standing on your doorstep is one thing; putting a cross next to his name on the ballot paper is something different entirely.

With 94 votes in the PLP stronghold in the 2007 General Election, Mr. Young fared worse than any other candidate from either party. In 2003, the UBP's Scott Hunter claimed just 63 votes in Pembroke East Central. The change in voting patterns Mr. Young needs to secure victory is massive.

So he advised people to use their vote as a protest.

"If this is a PLP stronghold, why are they aggrieving you? Send them a message by electing me," he told one woman who complained about trash problems.

She replied that she's always been one to go against the grain and that she would even encourage her friends to do likewise.

One young mother said she hadn't decided how she'd cast her vote, adding: "Which is shocking considering I'm a PLP member."

Mr. Young conceded that his requests for others to pull themselves away from the PLP sometimes met with a blank stare.

Nobody shut the door in his face, although he did recall one resident giving him stick because she thought he was his brother Kenneth — even though Kenneth has dreadlocks and Keith is bald.

Whether or not they're going to vote for him, residents were impressed with Mr. Young's local roots, as he pointed out his own grandchildren stand to benefit from any improvements he can make.

They were also encouraged by his ideas, such as setting up a Pembroke social club to give young people something to do instead of sitting on walls or getting into trouble.

One elderly woman complained about crime: "A lot of work has to be done; this Island is in need of prayer, lots of prayer."

However, she didn't believe it was all Government's fault, pointing out: "It takes an effort from everyone: each person. You can't rely on Government to do everything. You have to do your part too."

Banter on the doorsteps was buoyed by the enthusiasm of Mr. Swan, who was as eager to help people deal with their problems as he was to tell them to vote for Mr. Young.

Only one resident didn't warm to the UBP Leader — a menacing looking German Shepherd which had Mr. Swan back-pedalling down its owner's drive and through the gate quicker than he could say: "Vote for Keith!"

Mr. Young holds a free legal advice community outreach event this evening at the parking lot at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Glebe Road, from 6.30 p.m. to 9 p.m. All are welcome.