Affordable housing, education, and opportunities for youth are the big issues on the doorstep in constituency 30 Southampton East Central, according to United Bermuda Party candidate David Dodwell.

The Shadow Tourism Minister faces a tough fight - expected to be against businessman Raymond Tannock - in an area that has been a Progressive Labour Party stronghold for decades.

The constituency includes about three quarters of the old Southampton East, which returned PLP veterans Reginald Burrowes and Speaker Stanley Lowe for 30 years.

It also includes about a quarter of Mr. Dodwell's current seat, Southampton West.

A mainly residential area, it also includes the Fairmont Southampton, Sonesta Beach Resort, and Mr. Dodwell's hotel The Reefs.

Up to 80 percent of voters are black, with areas such as Scenic Heights and Horseshoe Road traditionally turning out heavily for the PLP.

The Riviera Estate area is also mainly black although parts are mixed, including whites and Portuguese. The constituency also has some pockets of wealthy homes along the South Shore.

The constituency, which has 1,146 voters, stretches from Tribe Road Number 3 in the west to Horseshoe Road and Scenic Heights Pass in the east.

A number of voters have expressed concern about youths hanging around Southampton Rangers and drug dealing, with many calling for Police action and also better youth facilities for the area.

Mr. Dodwell said: "The problem of affordable housing, both to rent and buy, has come out loud and clear on the doorstep, from people who have housing issues and those who don't.

"Getting the foundations of the future right in education has been another issue and there is very grave concern about the money spent versus the results achieved.

"It is not on top of the list, but there is Rangers club. I feel it could be a very useful way to correct these problems and I applaud the efforts there to date."

According to local voter and successful black businessman Greg Wilson, the PLP deserves a second chance, although he has not yet decided which candidate to vote for.

Mr. Wilson, who owns Greg's Steakhouse at Port Royal Golf Club, said: "I think the PLP have done a pretty good job. They are working hard and are still young in terms of leadership.

"It's their first opportunity and they have made some mistakes, but if I had to rate them I'd give them 75 percent, a pass mark.

"I'm no worse off than I was four years ago and I think they deserve another opportunity to improve on their personal lives as well as their public lives."

•Neither Mr. Tannock nor PLP chair Walter Roban responded to requests for information or an interview for this article.