General Election candidate Rodney Smith amid an embarrassing row over an evicted tenant.

Party Leader Jennifer Smith -- as is usual -- could not be contacted for comment.

But Deputy Leader Eugene Cox said: "The matter has been addressed in my view in that Mr. Smith has resigned and we gave out a release on that.

"The matter is dead and we need not carry it on -- there are other issues we need to address.

"He has resigned and his resignation has been accepted.'' Mr. Smith hit the headlines after he booted out tenant Sharon Williams and her husband from her home in Warwick's Spring Hill.

Mrs. Williams arrived home to find her belongings heaped outside the apartment and drenched by heavy rain.

She has already said she is to sue Mr. Smith for thousands of dollars to cover damage to her property.

Mr. Smith's move was particularly embarrassing for the PLP, keen to make the issue of affordable housing for Bermudians a major General Election issue and to portray Government as unconcerned about the problem.

The resignation announcement by Mr. Smith -- made at the office of his lawyer, Delroy Duncan -- came as a surprise to his own party.

But it is understood the PLP -- which earlier had carpeted Mr. Smith at a meeting at its Alaska Hall headquarters -- was relieved that he had taken any decision on the controversy out of their hands.

After Mr. Smith's announcement, Mr. Duncan said he would not answer any questions on the affair, due to "stress'' and the threat of impending legal action by Mrs. Williams.

Mr. Smith -- who has contested two recent by-elections in the Pembroke West constituency -- was slated to run there again, with Carvel Vanputten as his running mate.

It is believed the party has yet to decide who will replace Mr. Smith -- or whether they will allow Mr. Vanputten to run alone.