PATRICE MINORS, PROGRESSIVE LABOUR PARTY

Despite the glare of publicity focusing on Opposition leader Michael Dunkley's "do or die" attempt to take her seat, Mrs. Minors says she's been encouraged by the feedback during canvassing.

"I welcome the challenge. I'm feeling quite confident. On the canvassing trail I've been received quite well by the constituents. I've been encouraged and I'm feeling good about the result," she said.

Asked about the key issues for her constituents, Mrs. Minors, 45, said she's pleased Loyal Hill Pass finally re-opened over the summer, after being shut since Hurricane Fabian due to a wall collapse. She claimed her approach to Works and Engineering Minister Dennis Lister meant the stalled issue — caused by the road being a private one, and the residents deemed responsible for the repairs -was resolved by Works and Engineering.

She explained the Ministry found a provision within the law that allowed them to take down the part of the structure endangering the road. Mrs. Minors hopes the final element of the work — having the wall re-built, which will require a financial contribution from the owners — will be achieved soon.

She pledged to crack down on the use of Vesey Street as a rat run by motorists trying to avoid congestion around the Montessori Preparatory School in Lightbourne Lane.

She is concerned about speeding in the constituency too, and has ideas she wants to take to the Minister of Works and Engineering about this.

However, she preferred not to give details during this interview.

Mrs. Minors also wants to crack down on illegal dumping in that area with signage reinforcing the message that the culprits are breaking the law.

On the issue of congestion in Flatts Village, she plans to moot the idea of a one way system whereby traffic could head in one direction along Middle Road and the other along North Shore at peak times.

She plans to consult further with the Minister of Transport on that point. Like her opposite number Mr. Dunkley, Mrs. Minors does not live in the constituency, instead residing in St. David's with husband Stewart.

The couple have a daughter, Honor, who will be three years old in January. Mrs. Minors also has two step daughters and a step son.

Having won her seat by a 123 vote majority in 2003, she was appointed Health Minister. She served in that role until last year when she was replaced by Nelson Bascome.

Mrs. Minors worked at the Bank of Bermuda for more than a decade and is now at the Bank of Butterfield, having also served as President and Executive Director of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Bermuda.

An advocate for the Island's children, Mrs. Minors has listed new playground equipment at Loyal Hill Community Playground as a key post-election priority if she wins.

MICHAEL DUNKLEY

Commentators have classed Mr. Dunkley's bid to take on Mrs. Minors as a gamble with his political future. He begs to differ.

"Unlike many politicians it's not about losing but about serving people. If on election day they decide someone else is better suited then I'm not worried about it. I'm not going to stay around forever just because I like being a Member of Parliament. I'm about rolling up my sleeves and getting things done," he claimed. I really enjoy canvassing and listening to what people say."

Among their concerns, he said, are a lack of parking for residents and traffic congestion in Flatts Village, plus speeding there and along North Shore Road. "People come flying through. It's getting more and more dangerous. People are driving through there like it's an open freeway," he claimed. "It's my commitment to work with the residents to resolve those issues."

He also pledged to address road repairs needed in the constituency if he is elected.

On the topic of Loyal Hill Pass, he welcomes the fact that the road is open again, claiming: "I think it's probably open because of a good deal of pressure I put on when I started canvassing."

However, he said more work is needed to replace what he describes as a "temporary job," amid concerns that loose material behind the wall could still cause it to fall.

"I still deem it unsafe. With rain it will erode and wash down into the roadway," he claimed.

He agrees with Ms Minors that new playground equipment would be desirable at Loyal Hill Community Playground.

Mr. Dunkley promised to push for Neighbourhood Watch programmes to be established to combat what he claimed is a problem with drug usage in the area. Keen to see more Police officers on the streets, he also plans to push for the return of Community Beat Officers.

Mr. Dunkley highlighted the issues of scrambling and horse droppings as affecting the Railway Trail in Smith's North and dumping as a problem in Vesey Street. "We need to do a Works and Engineering sweep to pick it up and we need to enforce the law about littering. Nobody ever gets fined for that. If we keep Vesey Street clean and tidy people will be less willing to dump stuff," he said.

Mr. Dunkley is 49, and lives in Devonshire. His business Dunkley's Dairy is in the constituency, and he is married with two children. Elected Leader of the Opposition in April 2007, his previous posts in the Shadow Cabinet include Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety and Health and Family Services. He is currently Shadow Minister without Portfolio.

Mr. Dunkley is a member of the Bermuda Athletic Association, the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association and Coral Beach Club. In his spare time, he's a golfer and keep fit enthusiast. In his younger days, he played First Division cricket and soccer.