by-election candidates, according to ex-Government Senate Leader and Pembroke West by-election candidate Gary Pitman.

Mr. Pitman told Pembroke West UBP supporters: "Primaries may be divisive, they may be democratic, they may be unneccessary.'' He added: "They are, however, a very fundamental part of our party's constitution and were included to ensure that our branches have considerable say in the selecting of candidates to represent them.'' But he said: "Perhaps it is time we re-examined these rules.'' Controversy marred the selection process in Pembroke West after it was revealed rival candidate Wayne Soares -- who had already started canvassing support -- was found to be time-barred from standing in a primary.

Now Mr. Pitman, the only remaining candidate, will be formally adopted to fight the February 24 by-election at a meeting of the Pembroke West UBP branch next Tuesday.

Mr. Pitman told the party faithful at a meeting on Monday that Mr. Soares was "a credible candidate'' and that the mistake at campaign committee level should not be allowed to distract UBP members from the by-election battle or the forthcoming General Election.

Mr. Pitman stressed after the meeting that he was a supporter of the primary system -- but added they could lead to bruising and damaging in-fighting in the party.

Traditionally, the UBP has avoided potential pitfalls from primary contests in marginal seats, but uses them in seats regarded as rock-solid.

Mr. Pitman said: "In safe constituencies, when we do have them, it can become divisive and nasty and that does spill over into marginal constituencies.'' The Progressive Labour Party has a more centralised system, with the final say on candidates going to party chiefs meeting privately.

Mr. Pitman said: "They just appoint people to the various constituencies and keep all their fighting in-house -- it doesn't get outside.'' And he suggested that maybe the party should take a look at the code of conduct for primaries to see if it could be toughened up in a bid to avoid potential political minefields.

He said: "There are lots of people who feel strongly about primaries -- I wouldn't want them dropped, but there are people who feel they are divisive and should be dropped.

"What it needs is a whole study made -- we have set up a code of conduct. We would have to go and take a whole new look at it, perhaps.''