Environment Minister and Deputy Premier the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto yesterday blasted the United Bermuda Party's youth wing, Leaders of Tomorrow, for endorsing a rival in the Pembroke West Central primary election.

"I am shocked,'' she said. "It runs quite contrary to the espoused non-partisan nature of the primary. I am really surprised.'' Leaders of Tomorrow endorsed lawyer Mr. Jerome Dill on Monday, saying he represented the group's aim of getting more young politicians elected and also embodied its views.

Mr. Dill challenged Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto and adopted candidate Mr. Elroy Ratteray to a May 7 primary in Pembroke West Central.

Mr. Ratteray expressed surprise on Monday that the group had made an endorsement for the first time ever but said everyone was entitled to their choice.

Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said the endorsement went against the spirit of the campaign and encouraged factionalism within the UBP.

"When it has been agreed that these primaries ought to be fought without factions within the party, I am very surprised at this because I have no prior knowledge of this group having any involvement in the constituency which is necessary to make the call on which of the candidates is the most electable,'' she said.

"And that is what primaries are all about -- who will win the seat and who can cull the support necessary. Only a proper primary will decide that.'' Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto said she was also surprised the group had made the endorsement without contacting her.

"I have no knowledge of this group working in the constituency and they have never approached me to ask about my 12-year record as an MP.'' Mr. Ratteray yesterday said he agreed with Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto's comments and questioned what "ranks'' Mr. Dill had come through. "We are all UBP together,'' he said. "I hope they are not trying to take the united out of the United Bermuda Party.'' But Mr. Anthony Gorham, deputy chairman of Leaders of Tomorrow, a group of about 50 aspiring UBP politicians, said the group had no intention of creating factions within the party, but was endorsing Mr. Dill because he represented the party's need for younger politicians.

"We are not supporting Jerome Dill to create any kind of factionalism within the UBP,'' he said. "We are supporting him to show that we want to get young people involved. We think we can produce the kind of support to the UBP which will make it more successful.

"This does not show any kind of lack of support for Mr. Ratteray or Ann Cartwright DeCouto. We are just trying to show there is support for younger people.'' He said that while the group was not formally working in the constituency, several members were. The endorsement was not a signal that the group would be actively involved in Mr. Dill's campaign either, he said.

The primary will adopt two candidates to fight the next general election in Pembroke West Central, where Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto and Independent Mr.

Stuart Hayward are the incumbents.

UBP strategists are keen to win back Mr. Hayward's seat. He defeated then-Deputy Premier the Hon. Clarence James in 1989, turning what had been a UBP stronghold into a marginal.