Jamahl Simmons takes his seat in the House of Assembly tomorrow as the youngest Member of Parliament after romping to victory in yesterday's Pembroke West by-election.

"It looks like my problems have begun already," joked Mr. Simmons in his victory speech. He thanked his campaign team and the voters, saying it was "very humbling to have 500 people put their faith in me".

The United Bermuda Party (UBP) candidate collected 578 votes to Carvel VanPutten's 367, out of a total of 950 votes cast. Five ballots were rejected.

Mr. Simmons vote gave him 60 percent of the poll, about the same level that former MP Gary Pitman and incumbent Erwin Adderley polled in the 1998 General Election and the identical share acheived by Mr. Pitman gained in a by-election earlier in 1998.

"It was a very clean victory - a very decisive victory," said UBP leader Grant Gibbons. "I am delighted to have Jamahl Simmons join us in the House this Friday."

Asked whether he had any thoughts about giving Mr. Simmons a shadow ministry, he said : "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. But clearly he's cut out for a lot of things."

But while the UBP camp was ebullient, supporters of the Progressive Labour Party's (PLP) candidate also declared victory.

"I want to thank everyone who participated - particular the voters. This was their contest," said Mr. VanPutten.

"I don't think this was a losing battle - it's a winning battle." The results, he said, "shows we still have a lot of work to do in the area".

But he reminded the media that Pembroke West used to be considered a UBP stronghold and that he had made some gains since the last election.

"I've been into the lion's mouth so many times now I can taste my own blood," he told The Royal Gazette.

He promised to work with Mr. Simmons in addressing problems in the constituency and suggested he work constructively with the Premier.

"At this time we should be getting behind our Premier." For her part, Premier Jennifer Smith said that she was pleased that Mr. VanPutten had increased his share of the vote and "quite pleased with the teamwork".

She said his performance was reminiscent of her performance in St. George's North where she contested the seat six times before she was elected. "Carvel will do it in much less time than that," she said.

With a total of 1,700 registered voters, the turnout, at 55 percent, was relatively low.

"A lot of it reflects a dissatisfaction with the current Government and disappointment with a lot of undelivered promises," said Dr. Gibbons at count three.

"When people are disappointed they just don't feel inspired to come out and express themselves. When it turns to real anger you'll see a difference."

He added that the perception that it was a UBP safe seat probably also had something to do with the low turnout.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott saw it differently. "It was low and slow. I don't think the UBP core came out to the extent they usually do," he said.

As to the campaign itself, he said it was fought largely on the doorsteps and the mass media was not utilised.

"I think it was felt that Carvel was relatively strong in the community. There could be an argument that if you raise the heat in the media you energise the Opposition." He cited a poll commissioned by the party which suggested "apathy" among UBP supporters.

The poll also revealed that 51 percent of UBP supporters felt the Government's management of the economy had been effective.

"So if you had done a vitriolic campaign, you could have turned off those voters," Mr. Scott said. "It appears to be not a winning strategy but one that closed the gap."

Both candidates were supported by a steady stream of party colleagues, friends and family throughout the day.

Lionel Simmons, Jamahl Simmons' father was there throughout most of the evening.

The senior Simmons had been one of the founders of the National Liberal Party after being expelled from the Progressive Labour Party. He told The Royal Gazette that he was not affiliated with any political party at the moment.

"To serve the country is one of the greatest honours," he said. Asked what advice he had given his son he said : "He mustn't forget the social issues."