Bermuda Industrial Union boss and would-be MP Derrick Burgess has staked his claim on the Hamilton East seat with a hard-hitting pre-by-election speech.

Mr. Burgess also hit out at Government education policy and youth programmes and claimed a lack of Government commitment to Bermudianisation.

And he called for local action on deteriorating roads and highlighted the high cost of residential care for seniors and the need to protect the family structure.

An estimated crowd of 125 attended the Hamilton Parish by-election rally on Thursday.

Speakers included PLP leader Jennifer Smith, Shadow Health and Social Services Minister Renee Webb, who already sits for Hamilton East and PLP supporter and ex-Tourism Ministry official Randy Horton.

The by-election was called after the resignation of the Rev. Trevor Woolridge following court appearances last year where he was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman parishioner in Magistrates' Court and then cleared on appeal to Supreme Court.

The former PLP MP quit the party whip to sit as an Independent before he decided to resign from the House of Assembly altogether.

The constituency goes to the polls tomorrow, along with the Pembroke West constituency.

Mr. Burgess faces Bermuda Telephone Company executive Francis Furbert for the ruling United Bermuda Party, while ex-Government Senate Leader Gary Pitman will contest the UBP stronghold of Pembroke West against the PLP's Rodney Smith.

UNIONS UNS