the middle of April, it was revealed yesterday.

And the race for the Devonshire South vacancy hotted up with former UBP executive officer Joe Gibbons throwing his hat in the ring along with dairy chief Mike Dunkley's.

The primary to decide between the runners in a three horse race for the rock-solid UBP seats will both be held on April 17 -- among the shortest primary contests in the party's history.

And they will be followed by by-elections within two or three weeks to have MPs ready to sit in the new session of the House of Assembly on May 9.

The news came as UBP deputy chairman David Sullivan handed in his official nomination papers at the Dorchester Realty offices of Paget East branch chairman Campbell McBeath.

Government Senate Leader Lynda Milligan-Whyte has already declared she will run and she has been joined by former Women's Advisory Council chairman Kim Young to complete the frame.

The Paget East by-election and one in Devonshire South have been caused by the resignation, which took effect yesterday, of two ex-Premiers -- Dr. David Saul (Devonshire South) and Sir John Swan (Paget East).

Ms Milligan-Whyte told The Royal Gazette at the weekend that she expected a fight -- but that she hoped her experience in the Upper House as Leader and Legislative and Women's Affairs Minister would tell in her favour.

Mr. Sullivan -- who has resigned as deputy chairman of the UBP to fight for the nomination -- said: "A lot of what I am doing now is probably the culmination of 25 years of public service.

"My wife said I always had this at the back of my mind -- but I don't know.

It's all about opportunity. Two members of our party have resigned and the opportunities are there.'' Mr. Sullivan admitted: "I have two very formidable opponents...but I've spent a lot of time with the UBP and learned a lot with the UBP.'' He added that he could have continued to move up the backroom power structure of the UBP -- but felt it was time to get out in the field.

Mr. Sullivan said: "The party does look strongly to the inside for its future MPs. The next step for me would have been chairman, which is an ambition of everyone who serves, but this is a case where fate has overtaken and it's there before me.'' Mr. Sullivan refused to be drawn into discussing his competition for the seat.

He said: "The party in Paget East have certainly made sensible choices in the past and I'm sure they will make sensible choices in the future.

"My initial encouragement came from members of the party in the branch, so I was somewhat pleased that people know me and were not backward about coming forward.'' Mr. Sullivan, father of three teenage daughters, also dismissed fears that he could struggle against women candidates after the election of Pamela Gordon as Premier.

He said: "I don't think Bermudians, as a voting population, reduce our decisions to purely gender, purely race or purely hype of fashion.

"That's not what real people do. They look at the real record of candidates, the background, do their homework and make up their minds based on that.'' Mr. Sullivan, a former Paget East resident, has been involved with the UBP since 1985. He has held posts at both branch and central level. He organised and produced the party's recent conference on tourism and has served as chairman of the central Parochial Issues Committee.

In addition, Mr. Sullivan organised a visit by a North American circus last year through his role with Sandys Rotary Club, who recently honoured him with a Rotarian of the Year plaque, the first time Sandys has given such an award.

Another candidate for Paget East is this year's Crystal Award for services to women winner Kim Young.

Ms Young, 53, a former nurse, admitted she lacked the direct political experience of the other two candidates -- but staked her claim with a pledge to be a good constituency MP for an area which has had a Premier and Ministers as their elected representatives for some time.

She said: "I have been on the fringes of politics for many years and I've been on the approved list of candidates for two years. I've been politically involved for a long time -- this is an opportune moment to bring my experience to the forefront.

"I'm not intimidated at all. I hope that my background will show I've accomplished all sorts of things in the community and that now is the time for me.'' Ms Young, who has lived in Paget East for ten years, added: "If I am selected, Paget East would not have a Cabinet Minister representing them -- I would be able to represent their interests more easily.

"I would also sit well, because Grant Gibbons is very good with his finances and I'm very good on the human side -- we would fit well together.'' And she said: "What I'd like to do is be part of the system so we can follow behind our new Leader. One of her concerns is drugs. If we can deal with that, we can also do something about violence in our community.

No shortage of candidates to replace UBP titans "Drugs and violence are fragmenting our families and our community -- it would be nice to be able to leave our doors open again and relax in our homes.

"Paget East is like any other part of Bermuda -- we all have the same concerns, crime, drugs and education.'' Ms Young, who owns and manages the Bookmart in Hamilton's Phoenix Centre, is an Australian-qualified nurse.

She is also a member of the Human Rights Commission and a past chairman of the Board of Education. Ms Young is also head to the Task Force on Women's Issues.

She served on the Bermuda Hospitals Board for for six years to 1995 and joined the panel of the Family Courts in 1992. She was also a member of the Blow the Whistle on Violence Committee under what is now the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

Ms Young was awarded the Queen's Certificate for service to the community in the Queen's New Year Honours List for 1994 and became a Justice of the Peace in 1995. Announcing his candidature, Mr. Gibbons said -- who has an advert pushing his claim in today's edition of The Royal Gazette -- said his "political involvement and view from the inside'' gave the voters of Devonshire South a real choice.

Mr. Gibbons added he had worked for 20 years canvassing for candidates in constituencies across the Island. He was recruited by former Premier Sir John Swan for the executive officer's post in 1991.

The restaurateur said: "the experience and friendships I made in those two years, culminating in the party's successful result at the polls, were invaluable.

"Under Dr. Saul's leadership I was appointed to the campaign committee and have focused on the party's efforts to continue in its role as the Government of Bermuda.

"While working for overall success behind the scenes has been rewarding, it is time for me to come forward and use my experience.'' David Sullivan