Amongst the lush greenery of Devonshire South Central, a population of largely middle-class homeowners sees the plight of seniors and the affordable housing shortage as major issues in the upcoming election.

Area incumbent John Barritt, who is the United Bermuda Party' s legislative affairs spokesman, will try to fend off a challenge from Progressive Labour Party (PLP) veteran Aurelia Burch in a predominantly white district of 1,058 which stretches from Devonshire Bay, Poinciana Road and Brighton Hill Road in the east, all the way along Middle and South Shore Roads to Lane Hill, Point Finger Road and Southcourt Avenue in the west.

It takes in a large chunk of the eastern section of Paget too, and the old Paget East constituency in which Mrs. Burch has run as a candidate in the past, including neighbourhoods around Hungry Bay and along Berry Hill Road. It includes the Extended Care Unit of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, the Matilda Smith Williams Seniors' Residence and also the Purvis Park seniors housing complex, as well as two churches. There is a lot of open space in the district too, which combines acres of farmland with Devonshire Bay Park, the Botanical Gardens and large areas of private property, such as the Gibbons Estate.

"It's a strongly middle class area, which means people who have by and large worked hard all of their lives to have a nice home and provide their children with a good education and opportunities in life," said Mr. Barritt, who has been getting to know the district as a whole over the last couple of weeks, although a large part of it falls within his old Devonshire South jurisdiction.

"I don't even look at the constituency as new because most of it comes from my old seat. The people that have come in now are simply neighbours," he said. "I'm getting a pretty good reception. I never take anything for granted but I'm encouraged by the response I'm being given."

Parochial issues in the constituency include worries about the number of feral chickens in certain areas, as well as the size of the road on Brighton Hill, which Mr. Barritt said should be widened to improve sight lines and prevent an accident.

He said the many seniors who reside in the area tell him their concerns about how they will be able to live on their pensions.

"But it's more than just seniors who are expressing concern about the cost of medical care and health insurance. People in their 50s and 60s are thinking about how they are going to manage."

Asked if he had canvassed Premier Jennifer Smith, who lives at the Laurels off Middle Road, he said: "I wouldn't want to waste her time any more than she would want to waste mine. It's pretty clear where each of us stand."

Mrs. Burch said she had not had much of a chance to canvass the area since her candidacy was formally announced but would be taking to the hills and dales more over the next week to try and catch the vibe of voters.

"As far as I can see, there is a problem with crime, on a national basis and some reference to seniors.

"I know that Government has performed on its policy promises, especially in the areas of education and crime, although there is still something to complain about there too."

She added: "People should vote for me because I will be with the party that is in power and its ideas. People tend to know me, and I'm not saying that because I think I'm popular or important, just because I've been around a long time."

Senior Margot Pierdon, who is 92 and lives at Purvis Park, said: "I think crime on this Island is terrible and it's a fairly recent thing. Kids are fighting each other and hanging around corners. Where are their mothers and fathers?" She added: "All I know is that I want this government out. They have been extremely inefficient."

Farmer Carlos Amaral, who lives at Bleak Farm Close, said he had not yet met Mrs. Burch but "I would be interested to hear what she has to say".

He said he saw a major concern as the affordable housing shortage. "There is no easy solution. Any candidate could come up and say we're going to do this and that but I can't foresee any easy answer to this problem at all. Rents are running from $1,500 for one bedroom apartments and there are people working two jobs just to keep up with rent. When you're constantly pushing to find money for rent, your quality of life just isn't there and it affects the fabric of the community as a whole."

"It's going to be a close race. It's too difficult for me to call. To me, it seems as if Government have been spending a lot of my tax dollars and all I've seen is a lot of finger pointing, delayed budgets and no explanations. It's politicians being politicians at their finest."