FORMER Premier Jennifer Smith's removal would have come much easier for the PLP's rebel 11 had she lost the vote in her constituency, but it is unlikely that Independent Gavin Smith ran in St. George's North as a spoiler.

So believes Kenneth Bascome, who ran against the former Premier and Mr. Smith in last week's general election. Had he been voted in, the United Bermuda Party candidate said, it was likely that Ms Smith would have resigned and recent events - which saw half of the Progressive Labour Party refuse to endorse Ms Smith as leader or serve in Cabinet under her, and her humiliating removal - would never have taken place.

"If I had won they would not have had to go through what they are presently going through," he said. "I actually expected that I would win. I canvassed hard and I've continued to work in the community of St. George's even after being rejected (as an Independent) in 1998.

"I am not the first who's changed his political alliance (although if you listen to some people) you would believe that I am. All the focus has been on Kenny Bascome. What does that say to you? That they see me as a threat? That they see me as a potential upsetter? Were there some in her own political party who were hoping that I would defeat her so they would not have had to go through what they're going through now?

"Let's use the candidacy of Mr. Smith. A number of people said to me that he was a plant to take some of the youth vote away but I cannot look at Mr. Smith in a negative light. I stood (in '98) as an Independent. Why would I attempt to cast aspersions on his candidacy? I didn't believe he was trying to sabotage (the vote)."

Of the 854 ballots cast, 24-year-old Mr. Smith - the sole candidate for the Gombey Liberation Party - received 16 votes. Mr. Bascome and Ms Smith's tally was split by a mere eight, receiving 415 and 423 votes respectively.

As a former PLP stalwart, last week's election marked the first time that Mr. Bascome had run in St. George's under the UBP banner. He left the Labour Party prior to the 1998 General Election - after Ms Smith refused him as her running mate in St. George's North - and ran as an Independent losing to the Party leader, but taking 101 votes away from the PLP.

As a result, he believes, the lease on the concession stand he'd run out of Tobacco Bay for more than 20 years was handed to another businessman.

"I was out canvassing and one young man . . . went ballistic on me. He said if I'd kept myself quiet, I'd have been a 'bigga' today. (The implication was) that if I'd stayed within the folds of the PLP, I would've been a Senator.

"But if people were aware of what was done and how it was done, they would be well aware that (the PLP) had no intention of using me in any of their programmes. Still, even after having my character assassinated, even after having my businesses boycotted, I still worked for the betterment of my community.

"I still worked with the young people in my community. And I have a great desire to one day be standing on Parliament, on the inside and be delivering my maiden speech.

"My decision to join the United Bermuda Party was not based on revenge. It was based on the fact that I believe, as an individual, I have much to offer this country. When I stood as an Independent, I didn't expect to win.

"I only stood to show the Progressive Labour Party that you don't treat people in the manner that I was treated. Any (constituent) would tell you that I told them not to vote for me. I believed it was the PLP's turn; the tide had swung in their favour. I only wanted to teach them a lesson."

Mr. Bascome said he was "humbled and overwhelmed" by the number of voters who turned out in support of him last week but because there were many who still chose to vote along party lines, Ms Smith won the constituency.

"I believed that I had convinced the electorate that I had the interests of the community at heart and I continually espoused the fact that I would be a representative and not a sitting Parliamentarian," he said.

"In this election, I believe that there were a few people who didn't intend to vote, initially, but came out at the last minute. I believe they were die-hard PLP supporters. And (Ms Smith) has a large segment of her family that live in that constituency. And if it had been in the other constituency, that large segment of the family would've probably been my blood. My family live in St. George's West."

When asked why he joined the UBP instead of running as an Independent as he did in the previous election, Mr. Bascome said he was proud to be attached to the party's legacy.

"People will say I'm being used by the UBP. That's an overwhelming statement for a person like myself. I feel overwhelmed that a Government that governed for 30 years would see potential in a person like myself.

"I weighed all the options. I talked with my wife and asked her, 'If I was approached by the PLP to come back in the fold, would she support me going back?' To this day she hasn't answered me. You can read into that whatever you want.

"Politics is very similar to marriage. People grow away from one another. I'm aligning myself with a group of people who have a legacy and with my assistance and support, they'll build a dynasty."

Of the PLP split, Mr. Bascome said he hoped the decision had been made with Bermuda's interests at heart, but no matter what, St. George's would be better served than in the recent past.

"I believe that if it had been done a few months prior to the General Election, it would have been very difficult for them to find someone to sit and win that seat. If she had been removed prior to the General Election, I don't believe she would have contested that seat on behalf of the Progressive Labour Party.

"It's going to be very interesting now to see what her next step will be but I'm not affiliated with them. I can't think and answer for them.

"They had to weigh their options - whether they believed what they were to do was in the best interests of their country, first, and party, second. But the Government will want to re-win that seat in St. George's. I can guarantee you that a lot of the things that have been on the backburner, will be moved to the front burner."