ex-Opposition MP Trevor Woolridge yesterday stepped up a gear after the Rev.

Trevor Woolridge's shock decision to quit the House of Assembly.

Now the Hamilton East branch of the PLP -- which started the hunt last year after Mr. Woolridge resigned from the PLP to sit as an Independent -- is set to meet this week in a bid to find a successor for the forthcoming by-election.

Branch chairman Winters Burgess admitted the timing of Rev. Woolridge's decision came out of the blue.

He said: "It didn't come as a surprise -- but it did come unexpectedly. We haven't even had a chance to talk about it with the New Year holiday.'' Rev. Woolridge, the one-time pastor at Mount Zion AME church, is currently in Bermuda, although he is at present serving a Philadelphia congregation.

He quit the party to sit as an Independent in October last year after being convicted of a sex assault on a woman parishioner.

The conviction was quashed after a one-day appeal hearing in Supreme Court, although former Attorney Saul Froomkin, who acted for the woman in the case, is to appeal that ruling to the Court of Appeal.

A by-election must be called within the next 60 days, leaving all three parties with less time than anticipated to go to battle stations.

Mr. Burgess said: "We now have to fight a by-election -- unless a General Election is called before then.'' The PLP appear to have narrowed the field down to three, with Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess, ex-civil servant Randy Horton and Magistrate Arthur Hodgson all on the starting blocks, although Mr. Burgess is emerging as favourite.

Mr. Winters Burgess declined to comment on candidate selection, but added: "These are three people who are very prominent.

"But who knows -- it may turn out to be a dark horse.'' Mr. Woolridge announced his decision to quit in a letter to Speaker of the House of Assembly Ernest DeCouto.

He later explained that he made his move because he could no longer give the constituency enough time and wanted to make way for someone who could.

The eventual winner of the PLP battle in the seat -- which has see-sawed between the PLP, the ruling United Bermuda Party and the tiny National Liberal Party -- will face tough opposition.

The running mate for Shadow Health and Social Services Minister Renee Webb is set to face Bermuda Telephone Company manager Francis Furbert or new Senator Angelita Fox.

Mr. Furbert -- who fought the seat in 1993, coming third -- is the more experienced candidate, but the UBP might choose to field Sen. Fox to give her campaign experience in the run-up to the General Election.

The countrywide poll must be called by October -- but some insiders predict an early poll with Government going to the Country sometime between next month and April.

NLP to discuss by-elections: Page 3