voter choice, or political anachronisms with axes to grind.

They are Independent candidates, and five are contesting seats in the October 5 general election.

None will form part of the Government or official Opposition, but they all could be decisive in determining constituency outcomes.

Four of the districts in which Independents are running are considered marginal by both major parties. The fifth, Warwick West, is long-held by the United Bermuda Party but identified as key to any Progressive Labour Party win.

Mr. Stuart Hayward, the lone incumbent, defeated UBP Finance Minister the Hon.

Clarence James in 1989, riding to victory on a big-budget and well-orchestrated campaign that centred around the environment.

In the last speech he gave prior to that vote, Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan blasted the six Independent candidates as detracting from responsible Government.

"Independents are not a political party, they don't have a platform, they dance from place to place on votes,'' Sir John said.

"We have a lot of people wanting to turn the clock back, but when you come to a political forum, they are trying to reinvent the dinosaur.'' But Mr. Hayward defended Independent candidacies as pivotal to Bermudian politics and improving the atmosphere of Parliament.

Independents were not forced to adopt an adversarial stance, and therefore were "relieved of the need to turn every issue into a struggle for political supremacy''.

Though the PLP ran nine candidates in 1963, it was not until 1968 that a Bermudian election was fought along party lines. The change allowed voters to help choose their Government, not just their MPs.

Only Mr. Hayward is considered a serious challenger, but the four other Independents could each draw enough votes to affect outcomes in tight races.

They are: Mrs. Pat Gordon Pamplin, running in Warwick East. The sister of Youth and Sport Minister the Hon. Pamela Gordon, Mrs. Gordon Pamplin is a former UBP deputy branch chairman who recently became one of Government's most vocal critics.

Founder of the Alliance for the Protection of Rights of Bermudian Women, Mrs.

Gordon Pamplin is fighting attempts by the Immigration Department to kick her non-Bermudian husband off the Island.

Laws that give more protection to wives of Bermudian men than to husbands of Bermudian women were just one example of discrimination against women, she said. "We haven't progressed very much further than the days of the loincloth and the club.'' The 43-year-old chartered accountant and exempt company controller said drugs and opportunities for youth were other concerns.

Despite her dispute with Immigration, Mrs. Gordon Pamplin said she had not targeted Labour and Home Affairs Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman by seeking a seat in Warwick East. She sensed the most support from that constituency, she said.

With Mr. Pearman and Environment Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons in the fight of their lives against PLP challengers Mr. Alex Scott and Mr. Calvin Smith, the governing party hopes she will not draw UBP votes.

Mr. Albari Assalaam, running in St. George's North.

After sitting out the 1989 campaign, Mr. Assalaam has returned in a third bid for elected office.

Mr. Assalaam, 56, received only five votes in St. George's North in 1985, but said he was not embarrassed by the result.

"In fact, the other day a chap said he thought I got about 20 votes last time. I said: `No, no, no, I got five,''' he said.

Mr. Assalaam, a plumber by trade who now drives a van, said he felt he could win this time.

The need for a St. George's ambulance, another nursing headquarters, better housing for seniors, removal of drugs from Bermuda, and improved labour relations were among the important issues, he said.

Win or lose, Mr. Assalaam promised this campaign would be his last.

Mr. David Burch, running in Warwick West.

A 48-year-old singer and contractor, Mr. Burch returned to the Island a year ago after 15 years abroad.

He said he was shocked and angered by the state of the Island upon his return.

"The problems come from a lack of participation in the community and constructive places to go,'' he said. "This is a very boring Island.

"I feel I'm one of the only people who know what to do.'' Mr. Gershwyn Smith, running in Hamilton East.

Calling himself the "high priest'' Mohatma Shiloh Mahdi, the 34-year-old music publisher is campaigning on a platform to legalise marijuana.

"Marijuana is a food, to be eaten as a herb, like parsley,'' he said.

Mr. Stuart Hayward.