despite the Devonshire South by-election disaster.

He spoke after the National Liberal Party's executive met to discuss the defeat.

"The mood of the executive is that we should continue -- and that was unanimous,'' he said.

"We polled each member and that was their view, although there were concerns.'' Mr. Jeffers also rejected any suggestion he should step down as leader.

"I have indicated my preparedness to carry on,'' he declared.

A special NLP general membership meeting is now being arranged for June 3 to map out the future of the party.

One item on the agenda could be plans for a massive membership drive.

Last week's by-election -- won easily by the United Bermuda Party's Michael Dunkley -- saw Mr. Jeffers trail badly in third place.

He pulled just nine percent of votes cast, well behind the Progressive Labour Party's second-placed Danny Farias.

Before the count, his ambitions extended to grabbing between 25 and 30 percent of the vote and driving Mr. Farias into third place. Afterwards he hinted it may be time to throw in the towel.

Upbeat NLP "I've been in the political arena for 30 years and I've got to look at the whole picture from a personal and party point of view.'' Last night seven members of the NLP executive met for 75 minutes at the party's headquarters in the Vaucrosson Building in Church Street.

Mr. Jeffers said the mood was "surprisingly upbeat and optimistic'' in the wake of the by-election.

"There was concern that we did not do better, but we do feel there is a place for us in Bermuda politics. Giving up is not one of the options.

"One of the concerns is `how do we get our message across and how do we get people motivated'. Another issue is fund-raising.'' Mr. Jeffers blamed the NLP's poor showing in Devonshire South on a failure to get supporters out to vote -- rather than a poor message.

"We failed to put together the machinery to get people out.'' He added voter apathy was caused by constant media claims that Devonshire South was a safe UBP seat.

"A lot of people probably thought `why bother turning out','' he said.

Mr. Jeffers declined to say what issues will be put before next month's general membership meeting.

"There are some recommendations and challenges which we would like to bring to our members.

"At this stage, however, I do not want to preempt the general membership meeting.'' He added a time and venue for the meeting had yet to be worked out.

Daniel's Head to open to public Former military base, Daniel's Head, will be open for public holidays this summer.

The Somerset property will be open on: Bermuda Day (May 26); the Queen's Birthday (June 16); Cup Match (July 31-August 3); and Labour Day (September 1).

Buildings on the site would continue to be closed to the public, according to a spokesman for the Bermuda Land Development Company (BLDC).

And regulations governing use of the property would be similar to the National Park Regulations, he added.

"For example, music and noise will not be allowed if it disturbs any member of the public or any person living or working in the vicinity.'' Daniel's Head has been zoned for tourism development under the Development Plan for former military bases.