The PLP currently has a foothold in Devonshire North Central, but the political climate proved temperate this week when The Royal Gazette gauged the opinions of voters in the area.

The constituency could prove a key battleground in the General Election, with many people ready to swing to UBP candidate Albertha Waite unless current MP Glenn Blakeney can prove his commitment.

Doorstepping the residents of Cedar Park Road this week, it was clear that if Mr. Blakeney wants to hold on to his seat, he needs to do a lot more walking.

In the last election Mr. Blakeney passed the post by 105 votes, defeating Hilary Soares of the UBP. But if one thing was clear yesterday, it was that the broadcaster should be putting down his microphone and making a lot more house calls.

Traditionally, Devonshire North Central has been a safe seat for the Progressive Labour Party. With Devonshire North West, it forms most of the old Devonshire North which has been held by the Party since the birth of party politics.

Stateswoman Dame Lois Browne Evans, the longest serving Member of Parliament, also represented the district from 1963 until Parliament was prorogued for the July 24, 2003 poll.

This week, however, some voters expressed disillusionment with Mr. Blakeney and the current party leadership.

Rudolph Bean, 59, said: "You want the bottom line? Get rid of Ewart Brown. When you have someone who tells you it's my way or no way, are you getting a good deal? Just as I want the PLP to win, they need to get rid of him, as he's a liability and this election is going to be a lot closer than people think.

"The UBP has got their act together now — you don't hear any scandal coming out of them, but we hear scandal coming out of him."

Mr. Bean said: "And tell him he can take Glenn Blakeney with him. He ain't done nothing round here. A couple of years ago he was talking about getting a volleyball team together, but we come to him with real problems, we don't need a volleyball team!

"Since the last election, Glenn Blakeney has never set foot in this neighbourhood — I have never seen this man. Since he's been elected I have never seen him come to this door, and I can assure you there's a few more doors he hasn't come to either.

"Everything for him is HOTT 107. He never comes through to see if anybody is in need. Just because you own a house doesn't mean you aren't falling on hard times. You vote for who is going to represent you the best, regardless of whether they are PLP or UBP."

Mr. Bean, a taxi driver, was also unimpressed about Minister for Transport Dr. Brown's plans to enforce a GPS system on the nation's cabbies. "All you need to do is talk to the public and they'll tell you the service is not as good," he said.

Neighbour Colleen Smith, however, was happier with her MP. "We're PLP and we're voting," she said. "I've been living up here for 18 years and I think this constituency has been run pretty well. They've put more lighting in the area and the roads have been done, so, I'm pleased with Mr. Blakeney."

Ms Smith, 55, a dietary supervisor at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute, added: "I think the Government are doing a good job. I'm pleased with what they're doing for affordable housing."

Frederick Smith, 28, who works in tent installation and maintenance, added: "I'm quite happy on the whole with the PLP. "In terms of national issues, I think tourism has done pretty good. It could be better but I think the Premier has done a good job as far as tourism is concerned.

"However, I'm not happy with all this talk about Independence. It doesn't make sense. What have we got to give out to the world? We used to sell onions and Easter Lilies, and we're not doing much else apart from black rum, so we need more than that."

Mr. Smith said that, in the constituency, he wanted to see more organised activities for young people. "There's nothing for the youth around here," he said. "You've got children sitting up on the hill with nothing to do, so we need some activities for them."

Charles Gardner, 72, a former truck driver, said he was "neutral" but felt "let down" by the Government on social security payments. Due to a problem with his legs, Mr. Gardner is disabled and has to rely on a wheelchair for mobility.

"I've tried for disability but nothing came of it. I just get my Government pension and they said they couldn't give disability to me because I was already receiving this payment, but that's my pension which I've been putting into all of my life," he said.

Mr. Gardner was also concerned about crime. "We've only been living here two years, and one day I was asleep and someone walked in here and took the money out of my wallet ($119). I called the Police but they didn't even take any fingerprints."

Meanwhile, Judith Beach, 67, complained that garbage collectors regularly failed to pick up on the assigned days, leaving trash to spread all over the road. She also criticised Mr. Blakeney for not doorstepping her.

"I haven't seen him. The last time, he came the day before the election, and I haven't seen him since," said Ms Beach, a retired child care assistant.

"I don't appreciate that. How can you vote for someone like that? It makes it hard for the PLP. Mr. Blakeney has made it hard for the people to vote for him again.

"He's done nothing. Everything is HOTT 107. And if he does turn up at my door I'll tell him, 'I didn't know you still lived in Bermuda'. I would like for him to visit us as constituents at least once every six months. The girl (Albertha Waite) who is running for the UBP came here and got all our concerns. She seems to be concerned about the people around here."

Asked which way she would vote, Ms Beach said: "I will make up my mind between now and the 18th."