Threatening phone calls and the cancellation of a major conference have greeted the advent of Gavin Smith on the political stage, he says.

Twenty four year old Mr. Smith, the sole candidate of the Gombey Liberation Party (GLP), says that his decision to run in St. George's North has led to a negative response from some quarters.

"A card carrying life member of the PLP came up to me and said that he had been instructed to find out as much as he could about me and to ridicule me publicly," Mr. Smith said.

"But once he knew who I was and what I was about he felt he couldn't do it and he felt he was on the wrong side."

Mr. Smith's father Sterlin Smith said that he had received a telephone call demanding that his son withdraw his candidacy "or else".

"I just dismissed it as a load of rubbish," said Mr. Smith senior, a real estate agent. "This is not the first threatening phone call I've had. No one's ever physically tried to attack me." He said he had dialled the number back but no one answered.

"I had the number checked and it was a pay phone down in Ducking Stool. My wife got concerned. The whole thing is disturbing because Gavin is doing what he wants to do. I don't see why they don't just leave him alone."

He added: "I feel people are offended by the name Gombey, and the fact that he's running against Jennifer (Smith)."

Mr. Smith said that he was solidly behind his son's effort and that the campaign was going well considering that the candidacy was announced on Nomination Day - weeks after other candidates had started their campaigning.

"If we had started this six weeks ago it might have been a different kettle of fish. We would have had more time and better financial support. But it's going well considering the late start."

PLP spokesman Walter Roban has denied involvement of party members in the alleged intimidation tactics.

The candidate himself has not considered withdrawing from the race. "It's not going to stop me and it's not going to stop the party. What we are trying to do is more than party vibes - it's about helping our people."

Gavin Smith also told us that a planned music industry conference - the Black Radio Exclusive (BRE) Gombey Drummer Music Festival - which was scheduled to be held on the Island later this year has been jeopardised because of his candidacy.

"The conference has been indefinitely postponed because of the uncertain political climate and the political volleyball that has been taking place," he said.

Mr. Smith, who was one of the local partners involved in bringing the conference to Bermuda, said that this week an airliner withdrew an offer of discounted rates to bring participants to the Island.

He added that BRE had decided to hold the conference in Washington D.C. instead.

"If I could go back and do it again, knowing what I know now, I probably still would do it because there's a healthy change that could come out of this experience."

A rally is being planned for Monday night but the location was not confirmed by presstime.