floating votes to extend their majority in Sandys North.

PLP stalwart Mr. Eugene Cox was returned in convincing style along with running mate Mr. Dennis Lister -- both falling just short of the magic 1,000 mark.

Mr. Lister topped the poll with 949 votes, just seven ahead of Mr. Cox -- the PLP duo apparently garnering the support of many of the 259 NLP supporters from the last election, as well as that of a large proportion of the 200-plus extra voters in the constituency.

Today there are 2,123 registered voters in Sandys North, while four years ago there were just 1,883.

And, despite the bad weather, nearly three-quarters of the electorate braved the elements to cast their votes.

The UBP failed in their bid to loosen the PLP stranglehold on the Island's west end constituency with Mr. Ed Bailey (596) and Mr. Colin Pearman (591) defeated for the second election in a row.

Sandys North was a UBP stronghold prior to 1976 when Mr. Cox captured one of the two seats for the PLP. Since then, it has been the PLP who have dominated, taking both seats at every election except in 1985 when Mr. Bailey and Mr.

Pearman came through.

Former UBP incumbent Mr. J.C. (Kit) Astwood, who represented the constituency from 1972 until 1980, was at the Somerset Primary School polling station offering support to the UBP pair.

But, from an early stage in the voting, the outcome was never in doubt. And at one point it looked likely that the PLP total would be almost double that of their opponents.

"The electorate has spoken loudly and clearly,'' said a disappointed Mr.

Pearman after the result was announced. But, together with Mr. Bailey, he vowed to continue to work for the Sandys North community.

"The campaign will start tonight,'' said Mr. Bailey, stressing his commitment to his party's `Blueprint for Bermuda's future'.

Mr. Lister, who added 266 votes to his 1989 total, attributed the PLP's huge vote of confidence in Sandys North to their commitment to the community, regardless of political persuasion. "We have tried to bring the community together, '' he said.

And, added Mr. Cox: "We would like to have even better communication with our constituents so that we can better represent them.'' RESULTS Dennis Lister (PLP) 949 Eugene Cox (PLP) 942 Ed Bailey (UBP) 596 Colin Pearman (UBP) 591 Void ballots 10.

OCTOBER 1993 ELECTION